title: A Seroprevalence Study of Hepatitis B and C Virus Infections in a Hospitalized Population in Romania, an Opportunity for a Better National Prevention and Control Strategy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The most recent prevalence data for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in Romania came from an ESEN 2 study (2002), and from a Romanian population-based study performed in 2008. Most of the previous studies were regional and performed in specific groups (blood donors, pregnant women, institutionalized people, etc) and had limited representativeness at the national level, both for HBV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The scarcity of prevalence data for HBV and HCV infection coming from the routine surveillance was also considered. The aim of our study was to obtain overall and age group specific estimates of the prevalence of HBV and HCV infections markers in Romania, in order to recommend evidence-based public health interventions. The main outcome was the proportion of persons with HBV, HCV and HBV+HCV infection markers, overall and by age group and gender.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our seroprevalence study ensured national representativeness for the targeted hospitalized population. A prospective collection of serum samples in hospital laboratories was completed between September and November 2013, using a systematic sampling. The study respected the confidentiality of personal data. We calculated the sample size using EpiInfo7 and used Z test - Two-tailed probability for statistical significance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall prevalence data estimated in our study were HBc Ab 28%, HBs Ag 4.2%, HBs Ab regardless of titer 64.1%, HBs Ab in titer of at least 10 mUI/ml and negative HBc Ab 17.5%; HCV Ab 5.6%; HBc Ab and HCV Ab 2.8%, as markers of double infection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The overall prevalence data estimated in our study for HBs Ag (4.2%) and HCV Ab (5.6%) correspond to a medium endemicity based on the WHO criteria. The estimated prevalence of HBV and HCV infection markers in the study population should represent an opportunity for a better national prevention and control strategy.
authors.affiliation: The National Institute of Public Health (NIPH), Bucharest;PhD student Gr. T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, Romania. odette.popovici@insp.gov.ro.
authors.forename: Odette
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Popovici
authors.affiliation: The National Institute of Public Health (NIPH), Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Geza B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Molnar
authors.affiliation: The National Institute of Public Health (NIPH), Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Florin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Popovici
authors.affiliation: The National Institute of Public Health (NIPH), Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Denisa
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Janţă
authors.affiliation: The National Institute of Public Health (NIPH), Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pistol
authors.affiliation: PhD supervisor, Gr. T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, Romania.
authors.forename: Doina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Azoicăi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D060085:Coinfection; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D017053:Infection Control / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007297:Inpatients; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012383:Romania / Q000453:epidemiology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012698:Serologic Tests; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies