title: Serosurveillance of vaccine preventable diseases and hepatitis C in healthcare workers from Lao PDR.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Healthcare workers (HCW) have an increased risk of exposure to infectious diseases and are a potential source of infections for their patients. The Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) has no national policy regarding HCW vaccinations and routine vaccination coverage is low within the general population. This cross-sectional serostudy determines the level of exposure and risk of infection in Lao HCW against 6 vaccine preventable diseases and hepatitis C.
  
  
  METHODS
  1128 HCW were recruited from 3 central, 2 provincial and 8 district hospitals. Sera were tested by ELISA for the presence of antibodies and antigens to hepatitis B, hepatitis C, measles, rubella, varicella zoster, tetanus and diphtheria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only 53.1% of the HCW had protective anti-hepatitis B surface antigen antibodies (anti-HBs) with 48.8% having anti-hepatitis B core antibodies (anti-HBc), indicating previous exposure and 8.0% were hepatitis B surface antigen carriers. 3.9% were hepatitis C seropositive. Measles and rubella antibodies were detected in 95.4% and 86.2% of the HCW, with 11.9% of females being unprotected against rubella. Antibodies against varicella zoster, tetanus and diphtheria were detected in 95%, 78.8% and 55.3%, respectively. Seroprevalence varied according to age, gender and number of children.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An unacceptably high proportion of Lao HCW remain susceptible to infection with hepatitis B, diphtheria, tetanus and rubella. Furthermore, a high number of healthcare workers are chronically infected with hepatitis B and C viruses. These data emphasize the need for a robust HCW vaccination policy in addition to increased awareness within this subpopulation.
authors: Institute of Immunology, Luxembourg Institute of Health (former Centre de Recherche Public de la Santé)/Laboratoire National de Santé, Luxembourg, Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg; Lao-Lux Laboratory, Institut Pasteur du Laos, Vientiane, Lao PDR.
authors: Antony P
authors: AP
authors: Black
authors: Lao-Lux Laboratory, Institut Pasteur du Laos, Vientiane, Lao PDR.
authors: Keooudomphone
authors: K
authors: Vilivong
authors: Lao-Lux Laboratory, Institut Pasteur du Laos, Vientiane, Lao PDR.
authors: Phonethipsavanh
authors: P
authors: Nouanthong
authors: Lao-Lux Laboratory, Institut Pasteur du Laos, Vientiane, Lao PDR.
authors: Chanthasone
authors: C
authors: Souvannaso
authors: Institute of Immunology, Luxembourg Institute of Health (former Centre de Recherche Public de la Santé)/Laboratoire National de Santé, Luxembourg, Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg; Lao-Lux Laboratory, Institut Pasteur du Laos, Vientiane, Lao PDR.
authors: Judith M
authors: JM
authors: Hübschen
authors: Institute of Immunology, Luxembourg Institute of Health (former Centre de Recherche Public de la Santé)/Laboratoire National de Santé, Luxembourg, Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg; Lao-Lux Laboratory, Institut Pasteur du Laos, Vientiane, Lao PDR.
authors: Claude P
authors: CP
authors: Muller
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004165:Diphtheria / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007812:Laos / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008457:Measles / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012409:Rubella / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013742:Tetanus / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D014765:Viral Vaccines