ANTI HEPATITIS B TITRES IN HEALTHCARE WORKERS FOLLOWING HEPATITIS B IMMUNIZATION IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Authors

  • Shashikala.N Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, Institute of Nephro-Urology, Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
  • Mythri Shankar Assistant Professor, Department of Nephrology, Institute of Nephro-Urology, Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
  • Mythri.K.M Professor, Department of Microbiology, Institute of Nephro-Urology, Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
  • Madhura Megal Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Nephro-Urology, Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
  • Kausalya R Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Nephro-Urology, Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

Abstract

Introduction: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) has long been recognized as an occupational hazard for health-care workers (HCW), including trainees [1].Testing for postvaccination antibody titres (anti-HBs) identifies vaccine non-responders and hence guides the need for revaccination, additional testing for chronic HBV infection, and counseling [1]. In the current study, retrospective analysis of the anti-HBs titres of health care workers was performed to assess their response to hepatitis B vaccination and the variations with respect to age and time.

Methods: A retrospective cross sectional data analysis of  post vaccination serology of health care workers following completion of their Hepatitis B immunization schedule (0,1 and 6 months) as part of their annual health checkup was performed by determining anti HBs tires quantitatively using Abbot Architect Chemiluminescence assay.

Results: The age range of the study participants was 18-60 years. Among the 239 HCWs, 96.7% (n = 231) had protective immunity to hepatitis B. There was no significant difference in antibody response between males and females (P = 0.314). There was a decline in immune response as the age was increasing (P = 0.008). The results of the study found a significant decline in the immune response with time (P = 0.04)

Conclusion: Post vaccination immunity to hepatitis B was 96.7% in HCW and was found to correlate with the standard rates .The immunity was found to decrease with increasing age and over a period of time. More studies are required regionally and across the country to determine varied response in terms of post vaccination serology. Further research is required for improving the immunogenicity of existing vaccines and to sustain it over a longer period ensuring better occupational safety in developing countries. The importance of estimating anti HBs titres post vaccination is important for administering booster doses protecting the HCWs from occupational exposures.

Keywords: Anti-hepatitis B virus surface antigen levels, Health care workers, Hepatitis B vaccine, Hepatitis B virus.

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Published

2020-06-30

How to Cite

Shashikala.N, Shankar, M. ., Mythri.K.M, Madhura Megal, & Kausalya R. (2020). ANTI HEPATITIS B TITRES IN HEALTHCARE WORKERS FOLLOWING HEPATITIS B IMMUNIZATION IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL. International Journal of Medical Science And Diagnosis Research, 4(6). Retrieved from https://www.ijmsdr.com/index.php/ijmsdr/article/view/592

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 6 (2020)

Section

Articles