Occupational exposures and risk of hepatitis B virus infection among public safety workers.
We conducted a questionnaire and seroprevalence survey to determine the frequency and type of occupational exposures (OEs) and the risk of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection experienced by public safety workers (PSWs). Of the 2910 PSWs who completed the survey, 6.8% reported at least one OE in the previous 6 months, including needlestick (1.0%), being cut with a contaminated object (2.8%), mucous membrance exposure to blood (0.9%), and being bitten by a human (3.5%). The rate of OE varied by occupation with 2.7% of firefighters, 3.2% of sheriff officers, 6.6% of corrections officers, and 7.4% of police officers reporting > or = 1 OE (P < 0.001). The HBV infection prevalence was 8.6%, and after adjustment for age and race, it was comparable to the overall US prevalence and did not vary by occupation. By multivariate analysis, HBV infection was not associated with any OEs, but it was associated with older age, being nonwhite, and a previous history of a sexually transmitted disease. This study demonstrated that although OEs are not uncommon among PSWs, HBV infection was more likely to be associated with nonoccupational risk factors. Administration of hepatitis B vaccine to PSWs early in their careers will prevent HBV infection associated with occupational and non-OEs.
Averhoff
Francisco M
FM
Division of Viral Hepatitis, World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Research and Reference in Viral Hepatitis, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Ga., USA. averhoff@who.or.id
Moyer
Linda A
LA
Woodruff
Bradley A
BA
Deladisma
Adeline M
AM
Nunnery
Joni
J
Alter
Miriam J
MJ
Margolis
Harold S
HS
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012306:Risk; D012449:Safety; D012926:Social Control, Formal; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology