title: The impact of a vaccination campaign against hepatitis B on the further decrease of hepatitis B virus infection in a southern Italian town over 14 years.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatitis B virus infection has decreased in Italy. The aims of this study were to identify changes, if any, in the epidemiological pattern of HBV infection in a southern Italian town first surveyed in 1996 and to assess the effectiveness of vaccination campaign against hepatitis B.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2010, subjects were selected from the census by a systematic 1:4 random sampling procedure. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) were detected by ELISA. Associations (odds ratios) linking exposure to hepatitis B virus infection to potential risk factors were estimated by univariate and multivariate analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 1100 eligible subjects, 1020 (92.0%) agreed to participate. The prevalences of HBsAg (0.6%) and anti-HBc (15.2%) were significantly lower than in 1996 (0.8% and 21.5%) (p<0.01). No subject below 30 years of age (those that had been targeted for compulsory immunization) had been exposed to HBV infection. At multiple logistic regression analysis, age>45 years (OR=9.8; 95% CI=5.1-18.7) and past use of glass syringes (OR=1.9; 95% CI=1.2-3.1) independently predicted the likelihood of anti-HBc positivity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results, albeit obtained in a small town and thus not generalizable, confirm the continuous decreasing trend of HBV infection and demonstrate the effectiveness of the Italian hepatitis B vaccination program.
authors.affiliation: Tropical Diseases Unit, Policlinico Umberto I, Rome, Italy. T.Stroffolini@policlinicoumberto1.it
authors.forename: Tommaso
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stroffolini
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Guadagnino
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rapicetta
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Menniti Ippolito
authors.forename: Benedetto
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Caroleo
authors.forename: Giovambattista
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Sarro
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Focà
authors.forename: Maria Carla
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Liberto
authors.forename: Aida
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giancotti
authors.forename: Giorgio S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Barreca
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Marascio
authors.forename: Flavia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lombardo
authors.forename: Orietta
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Staltari
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D032541:Mass Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines