[Seroprevalence of hepatitis B and C viruses in a psychiatric institution].
Many patients admitted to psychiatric institutions have a history of risk factors for contamination with the hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV and HCV). Immunization policies for psychiatric institution patients are not widely know. A study conducted in a 600-bed psychiatric institution in Paris, France, to evaluate the proportion of potentially contaminating patients at admission, as well as immunization use in HBV-negative patients. Serologic markers for the HBV and HCV were looked for prospectively in all patients admitted over a two-month period. Immunization use was evaluated in the patients who had a first serologic test in 1995 or 1996 and follow-up tests until the end of 1997. The prospective part of the study demonstrated preadmission exposure to the HBV in 23.0 +/- 6.0% of patients. This proportion was larger in men (26.0%) than in women (14.8%), although the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.10). Four patients (2.0%) tested positive for the HbS Ag. Among the HBV-negative patients, 13.0% received the vaccine; all had protective antibody levels. These patients were younger and more likely to be first-time admissions (18.4% vs 3.6%, P < 0.01). HCV seroprevalence was 6.0%. Serologic tests for the HBV were requested for 327 patients between January 1995 and december 1996. Among the patients who were seronegative at admission and received follow-up at the study hospital, only 13.8% were immunized at this hospital. Of the HCV-positive subjects, 63.3% were also HBV-positive. None of the HCV-positive HBV-negative subjects received immunization subsequently. Six to eight per cent of patients admitted to the study hospital are potentially contaminating for the HBV or HCV. The level of hepatitis B vaccine use is too low, particularly in high-risk patients. These data indicate a need for policies aimed at effectively preventing HBV and HCV transmission (information, education, immunization campaigns), both during the psychiatric institution stay and after discharge.
Eveillard
M
M
Laboratoire Central, Etablissement Public de Santé Perray-Vaucluse, Epinay-Sur-Orge, France.
Daroukh
A
A
Desjardins
P
P
Legrand
S
S
Odzo-Gakala
M
M
Bourlioux
P
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines
D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines
Séroprévalence des virus des hépatites B et C en milieu institutionnel psychiatrique.