title: Prevalence of hepatitis B in an adult psychiatric hospital.
abstract: The prevalence of hepatitis B infection among 697 patients in an adult psychiatric hospital was determined by testing for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and its antibody (anti-HBs). The test results were 0.86 per cent positive for HBsAG and 20 per cent positive for anti-HBs. This assessment of the prevalence of hepatitis B in a group of elderly long-term institutional patients may be used as a guide when hepatitis B vaccination is being considered for use in a psychiatric hospital. It is noteworthy that the elimination of overcrowding in psychiatric hospitals has contributed significantly to the decline of hepatitis B infection in recent years.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens