title: Seroepidemiology of hepatitis A and B and vaccination status in staff at German schools for the handicapped.
abstract: This study aims to assess serostatus and vaccination status of hepatitis A and B among staff at schools for the handicapped. We also wanted to investigate factors associated with serostatus, number of infections with hepatitis A/hepatitis B at work, and factors influencing being vaccinated or not. The cross-sectional study was carried out between August 2010 and August 2012 at 13 German schools for severely handicapped. Data were analyzed using blood samples, vaccination documents, and questionnaires. A total of 395 persons participated in our study (response: 59.7%), information on 367 could be used for analysis. Two respondents have been infected with HAV at work, 53.4% were anti-HAV seropositive. Vaccination against hepatitis A was influenced by information about infectious diseases before starting to work, level of education, and marital status. One person got infected with hepatitis B during work, 53.2% were anti-HBs-seropositive. Vaccination against hepatitis B depended on perceived burden by nursing activities, and vaccination costs being paid by employer. Immunity to hepatitis A and B in our sample is insufficient and does not correspond to the infectious risks. Two persons got infected with hepatitis A and one person with hepatitis B during work at school, indicating an urgent need for preventive actions. J. Med. Virol. 89:825-833, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Teachers' Health, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Claus
authors.affiliation: Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Renate
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kimbel
authors.affiliation: Institute of Teachers' Health, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schöne
authors.affiliation: Institute of Teachers' Health, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany.|Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Letzel
authors.affiliation: Institute of Teachers' Health, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Dirk-Matthias
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Rose
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008503:Medical Staff; D008875:Middle Aged; D012574:Schools; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines
keywords: handicapped; infectious diseases; school; teachers; vaccination