Hepatitis B vaccination in women healthcare workers: a seroepidemiological survey.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the concentration and kinetics of antibody response after hepatitis B vaccination among women healthcare workers.


METHODS
Longitudinal retrospective seroepidemiological survey among women vaccinated against hepatitis B working in a university hospital and followed-up in an occupational health department. A structured form was used to collect socio-demographic characteristics, clinical data, age at vaccination, vaccination schedule, measurement of antibodies to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs antibody). Subjects were considered seronegative against hepatitis B when anti-HBs antibody concentration was less than 10 mIU/ml.


METHODS
A 1260-bed general hospital in Paris, France.


METHODS
All women healthcare workers visiting the occupational health department between January 1997 1st and December 2000 31st and who had a measurement of anti-HBs antibody.


RESULTS
Irrespective of the age at the primary vaccination, 810 (92%) women were seropositive (anti-HBs antibody > or = 10 mIU/ml). Only 22 women (4.5%) vaccinated before 26 years of age were seronegative, against 46 (13.2%) vaccinated after 25 years of age (p < 0.001). Seven years after vaccination, 78% of women were still seropositive. An inadequate vaccination schedule (adjusted hazard ratio (HR), 3.0; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.6-5.5) and an age greater than 25 years at primary vaccination (HR, 2.6; 95% CI, 1.5-4.4) were associated with being seronegative against hepatitis B.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite vaccination, some women healthcare workers were seronegative against hepatitis B virus. Vaccinating early in the career of a health-care worker using an adequate schedule seems key-elements to guarantee an anti-HBs measurement > or =10 mIU/ml.
Locquet
C
C
Service de Médecine du Travail, Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris Descartes, 45, rue des Saints-Pères, 75006, Paris, France. celine.locquet@univ-paris5.fr
Marande
J-L
JL
Choudat
D
D
Vidal-Trecan
G
G
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D010564:Personnel, Hospital; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines