title: Hepatitis B seroprevalence among University of Malaya Students in the Post-universal Infant Vaccination Era.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A nationwide HBV vaccination for neonates in the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) was implemented in Malaysia in 1989. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of HBsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HBc among the new student intakes in the Faculties of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Malaya from 2005 to 2011.
  
  
  METHODS
  All new students enrolled for undergraduate and postgraduate courses were screened for HBV infection. Serum samples collected were tested for the presence of HBsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HBc with the use of fully automated analysers. Statistical analyses were done using Open Epi version 2.3.1
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall HBsAg prevalence among the 2923 new intakes was 0.62%. The HBsAg prevalence rate was 1.08% (15/1390) for those born before 1989 and only 0.20% (3/1533) among those born in or after 1989. By year of testing, HBsAg prevalence declined steadily from 1.27% (5/394) in 2005 to 1.20% (5/418) in 2006, 0.95% (4/421) in 2007, 0.49% (2/410) in 2008, 0.49% (2/407) in 2009 and finally 0% in both 2010 (0/445) and 2011 (0/428). Although 66.14% of those vaccinated during infancy had no demonstrable immunity at the time of screening, only 6 (0.39%) students were found to have anti-HBc, including the 3 who were HBsAg positive.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggested effective prevention of HBV transmission with the universal and voluntary vaccination programs in Malaysia.
authors: University of Malaya, Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. kpng@ummc.edu.my.
authors: K P
authors: KP
authors: Ng
authors: Y F
authors: YF
authors: Ngeow
authors: Rozainah
authors: R
authors: K
authors: Rosmawati
authors: R
authors: M
mesh_terms: D006509:Hepatitis B; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D006515:Hepatitis B virus; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013334:Students; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines