title: Serologic control against hepatitis B virus among dental students of the University of Granada, Spain.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To evaluate the immunological situation against hepatitis B virus (HBV) of a cohort of dentistry students, to analyze the behavior of the levels of hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) after the administration of one or three vaccine doses, and to determine the influence of age and sex on the immune response.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective cohort study included students attending the School of Dentistry of the institution where the study was performed from 2005 to 2012 who had completed the public health vaccination calendar for HBV at the age of 12-13. Data on age, sex, basal anti-HBs levels, post-vaccination anti-HBs results and final anti-HBs levels were collected. Comparisons of the basal and final levels, as well as associations regarding age and sex, were performed by means of the Student t and Chi-square tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 359 students, 97 (27.02%) had basal antibody concentrations <10 mIU/ml, whereas in 262 the levels of anti-HBs were ≥10 mIU/ml (72.98%). Of the 288 participating students who completed the School's protocol for immunization, 287 (99.65%) attained a level of protection ≥10 mIU/ml. Globally, there were statistically significant differences between the basal antibody levels and those achieved after administration of the vaccine and booster, but no association with age or sex was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  About 70% of dental students vaccinated as pre-adolescents had serologic evidence of protection against HBV. Administering a booster is associated with the presence of an excellent immune memory. There is clearly a need to reinforce control of the antibody levels in groups at risk, such as Dentistry students.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, School of Dentistry, Campus de Cartuja, Colegio Máximo s/n, E-18071 Granada, Spain, mtarias@ugr.es.
authors.forename: M-T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Arias-Moliz
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rojas
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Liébana-Cabanillas
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bernal
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Castillo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Archilla
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Castillo
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liébana
mesh_terms: D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013030:Spain; D013335:Students, Dental; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines