[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.
Laboratoire Central, Etablissement Public de Santé Perray-Vaucluse, Epinay-Sur-Orge, France.
M
M
Eveillard
A
A
Daroukh
P
P
Desjardins
S
S
Legrand
M
M
Odzo-Gakala
P
P
Bourlioux
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.