title: Hepatitis B screening in travelers: a retrospective analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Non-immune travelers are at risk of acquiring hepatitis B (HB) in high prevalence countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  At the Institut Pasteur Vaccination Center in a retrospective study we retrieved hepatitis B serological data from the vaccination database between 2008 and 2012. Serology (HBsAg, HBsAb and HBcAb) is proposed to travelers who have no information about their previous HB vaccination status if they travel to countries of high or intermediate prevalence of HB, for long or frequent trips.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 1093 people 53.1% were men, mean age was 39.6 ± 13.0 years. Prevalence of chronic HBV infection was 5.86% (64 subjects). Their mean age was 36.2 ± 7.3 years, 65.6% were men. Seroprevalence of people of sub-Saharan African origin was 9.2%, higher than the other geographic groups. Past, resolved HB infection was found in 320 subjects, 29.3% of the population; 90.3% were of sub-Saharan African origin. A subgroup of the "Past, resolved HB infection": 73 people (6.7% of the population) had isolated HB core antibodies. Vaccine induced immunity was found in 286 subjects (26.17% of the total population), 40% of people born in France. All three markers of HB were negative at 38.7% of our total population (423 people), and 54% of people of French origin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HB seroprevalence was higher than in general French and European population, due to our large number of individuals with immigrant background. Pre-travel counseling allows screening and vaccination of non-immune travelers and detection of chronic HB infection cases.
authors.affiliation: Institut Pasteur, Centre Médical, 209 rue de Vaugirard, 75015 Paris, France. Electronic address: agergely@pasteur.fr.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gergely
authors.affiliation: ACTIV (Association Clinique et Thérapeutique Infantile du Val de Marne), 27 rue d'Inkermann, 94100 Saint Maur des Fossés, France. Electronic address: stephane.bechet@activ-france.fr.
authors.forename: Stephane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bechet
authors.affiliation: Institut Pasteur, Centre Médical, 209 rue de Vaugirard, 75015 Paris, France. Electronic address: cgoujoun@pasteur.fr.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Goujon
authors.affiliation: Institut Pasteur, Centre Médical, 209 rue de Vaugirard, 75015 Paris, France. Electronic address: ghania.benabdelmoumen@pasteur.fr.
authors.forename: Ghania
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Benabdelmoumen
authors.affiliation: Institut Pasteur, Centre Médical, 209 rue de Vaugirard, 75015 Paris, France. Electronic address: consigny@pasteur.fr.
authors.forename: Paul-Henri
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Consigny
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017954:Africa South of the Sahara / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014195:Travel; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines
keywords: Hepatitis B; Immigrant; Screening; Seroepidemiology; Travel medicine