title: Prevalence of hepatitis B in haemodialysis nursing staff in Athens.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Healthcare workers are at high risk of acquiring hepatitis B and particularly haemodialysis staff. The aim of the study was to examine the prevalence of hepatitis B markers in haemodialysis nurses and to explore the determinants of the infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred and sixteen haemodialysis nurses from 20 haemodialysis units in Athens completed an anonymous questionnaire, their blood samples were taken and tested for hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of positive HBsAg among nurses was 0.5%. Anti-HBc positivity due to past exposure to HBV was 12.5%. A total of 87.5% of the participants had immunity to HBV. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that previous exposure to HBV was related positively with the age of the haemodialysis nursing staff [odd ratios (OR): 1.115, 95% CI: 1.014-1.226, P = 0.025].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of HBV in the haemodialysis nursing staff in Athens is low, the vaccination coverage and the immunity to HBV are high in comparison to previous reports.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Nursing, University of Athens, Greece Haemodialysis Unit, West Attica Hospital, Athens, Greece. dtopka@yahoo.gr
authors.forename: Dimitra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Topka
authors.forename: Labros
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Theodosopoulos
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Elefsiniotis
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Saroglou
authors.forename: Hero
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Brokalaki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D006436:Hemodialysis Units, Hospital; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000451:nursing* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000451:nursing*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines