[Persistence of anti-HB antibodies after vaccination against hepatitis B in medical staff of the Memorial Child Health Institute in 1994-1998].
BACKGROUND
The objective of the study was to assess the persistence of anti-HBs antibodies after vaccination against hepatitis B in the medical staff of the Children's Memorial Health Institute in 1994-1998.


METHODS
The workers were vaccinated with Engerix B, 20 mg per dose, scheme: 0, 1, 6 and 60 months. The anti-HBs level in vaccinated persons was assessed 3 months after basic vaccination and 1 month after administration of a booster dose. The persistence of antibodies was analyzed 2 and 5 years after basic vaccination and 2 years following the booster dose.


CONCLUSIONS
The analysis revealed a very satisfactory response in 96.2% of workers, including 84.0% persons with preventive titre above 100 iu/l. The absence of response was found in 3.8% of persons, and very weak (below 100 iu/l response in 12.2% of workers. After 5 years, the percentage of good and very good responders diminished to 54.5 and that of non-responders increased to 12.6. For 12.6% of workers, a booster dose after 5 years proved to be too late as they required earlier revaccination and individual monitoring of antibodies titre. Only 87.4% of workers showed the protective anti-HBs level after 5 years. Booster administration after 5 years improved the response in persons with anti-HBs protective level; their percentage increased to 98.8% while the percentage of non-responders decreased to 1.2. Comparison between the antibody persistence 2 years after basic vaccination and after booster dose indicated its improvement in persons with seroconversion, however, the percentage of workers with anti-HBs antibodies below the protective level remained at the same level (3.3%).
Przychodni Przyzakładowej, Instytutu Pomnik-Centrum Zdrowia Dziecka w Warszawie.
Agnieszka
A
Migdał
Bogumiła
B
Nowak-Parzygnat
Kazimierz
K
Madaliński
D006282:Health Personnel; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007117:Immunization, Secondary; D013997:Time Factors
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines