Hepatitis B and the dental profession: response to hepatitis B vaccine in Canadian dental personnel. A study by the Canadian Red Cross Collaborative Group.
Reports from North America and Western Europe based on the prevalence of hepatitis B virus markers and frequency of hepatitis B in dentists indicate that this professional group is at increased risk of HBV infection. We gave hepatitis B vaccine (Merck Sharp and Dohme) to 251 dental students and faculty/staff members at faculties of dentistry in three Canadian universities. Participants received three 20 micrograms doses of vaccine, at 0, 1 and 5.5 months. Anti-HBs was detected in 42.9 per cent of persons after the first dose of vaccine, in 96.8 per cent after the second dose and in 99.6 per cent after the third dose. A follow-up of 150 persons 22 months after the first dose of vaccine indicated that high or medium levels of anti-HBs were maintained in nearly 87 per cent of the participants and only six per cent had no detectable antibody. Female vaccinees in each age group developed anti-HBs more promptly, and more of them were in the high antibody-response range in comparison to male participants. There were no unacceptable reactions to the vaccine. Our favourable experience with this vaccine would support recommendations for its routine use among dental professionals in Canada and other countries where this group is at increased risk of HBV infection.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002170:Canada; D003797:Dental Staff; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012306:Risk; D013997:Time Factors; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D014765:Viral Vaccines