title: A reinvestigation of seroconversion rates in hepatits B-vaccinated individuals.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine whether the hepatitis B seroconversion rates in a small sample of subjects reflected that of the published rates, regardless of HIV status, after a hepatitis B vaccination series was completed while following strict vaccine protocols. The study, which had a nonexperimental, correlational cross-sectional design, took place at a community clinic in Laguna Beach, CA. Participants comprised 100, predominantly White, men aged 18-65 years (mean 39.2 years) who were hepatitis B naive, regardless of immune status. After receiving a primary vaccine series for hepatitis B, participants were tested for seroconversion to immune status. Seroconversion to the immune state occurred in 78.6% of the non-immunocompromised, HIV-negative participants (n = 50), who had received the standard three-dose regimen of the vaccine, and in 77% of the immunocompromised, HIV-positive participants (n = 48), who had received the recommended modified three-double-dose regimen. The manufacturer-published rates of seroconversion are 90-100%, depending upon the population. These findings highlight a need for further study to validate or reveal deficits in current vaccine protocols for individuals who are vaccinated against hepatitis B, including health care workers, the immune-compromised and other high-risk populations.
authors.affiliation: College of Graduate Nursing, Western University of Health Sciences, Huntington Beach, CA, USA lithgowNP@aol.com.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lithgow
authors.affiliation: College of Graduate Nursing, Western University of Health Sciences, Huntington Beach, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Casey
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cole
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines
keywords: HIV infection; hepatitis B; hepatitis B vaccine; seroconversion rates