Vaccination against hepatitis B in health care workers

[Guest guest]

Vaccine 2001 Mar 21;19(17-19):2389-94

Vaccination against hepatitis B in health care workers.

Bonanni P, Bonaccorsi G

Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, University of Florence, Viale

G.B. Morgagni 48, 50134, Florence, Italy

[Medline record in process]

Hepatitis B is the most important infectious occupational disease for health

care workers. The high risk of being infected is the consequence of the

prevalence of virus carriers in the assisted population, the high frequency

of exposure to blood and other body fluids and the high contagiousness of

hepatitis B virus (HBV). Vaccination is able to prevent the most threatening

consequences of the infection (acute disease and chronic carriage) in

responders, even after loss of detectable antibodies. Non-responders to the

primary series may benefit from administration of up to three more doses of

vaccine (40-70% of initial non-responders show seroconversion to the new

series). However, newly developed vaccines that seem more immunogenic are

presently under evaluation and should further decrease the number of

non-immune workers in the near future. In the mean time, coverage with

standard vaccines should be improved also by supplying complete information

on the risks of hepatitis B and on the safety and efficacy of active

immunisation.

PMID: 11257366, UI: 21157747

[Guest guest]

Vaccine 2001 Mar 21;19(17-19):2389-94

Vaccination against hepatitis B in health care workers.

Bonanni P, Bonaccorsi G

Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, University of Florence, Viale

G.B. Morgagni 48, 50134, Florence, Italy

[Medline record in process]

Hepatitis B is the most important infectious occupational disease for health

care workers. The high risk of being infected is the consequence of the

prevalence of virus carriers in the assisted population, the high frequency

of exposure to blood and other body fluids and the high contagiousness of

hepatitis B virus (HBV). Vaccination is able to prevent the most threatening

consequences of the infection (acute disease and chronic carriage) in

responders, even after loss of detectable antibodies. Non-responders to the

primary series may benefit from administration of up to three more doses of

vaccine (40-70% of initial non-responders show seroconversion to the new

series). However, newly developed vaccines that seem more immunogenic are

presently under evaluation and should further decrease the number of

non-immune workers in the near future. In the mean time, coverage with

standard vaccines should be improved also by supplying complete information

on the risks of hepatitis B and on the safety and efficacy of active

immunisation.

PMID: 11257366, UI: 21157747