title: Hepatitis B testing and vaccination in patients recently diagnosed with HIV infection.
abstract: The British HIV Association currently recommends vaccination against hepatitis B virus (HBV) for all susceptible HIV-infected individuals, therefore a retrospective analysis was performed on case notes from all patients diagnosed with HIV infection in our department for a one-year period from 1st August 2005; in each case HBV serological testing and vaccination status were recorded. Fifty-one patients were diagnosed with HIV infection during the study period, however, serological testing for HBV infection had been undertaken in only 76% of susceptible patients by 12 months following their HIV diagnosis. At the time of analysis only 31% of patients were adequately vaccinated against HBV, with recorded HBV surface antibody titres of >100 IU/L. HBV remains a considerable cause of morbidity and mortality in HIV-infected individuals and this study suggests that prevention or detection of HBV infection requires increased vigilance on the part of physicians managing HIV-positive patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genito-urinary Medicine, Level 1, Lauriston Building, Lauriston Place, Edinburgh EH3 9HA, UK. Nicola.McKinney@luht.scot.nhs.uk
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Steedman
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McMillan
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012698:Serologic Tests; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines