Abstract:

Introduction: Health Care Workers (HCW) are at an escalating risk of acquiring blood borne pathogens. Of all, HBV is the one which is vaccine preventable but still sizeable proportion of HCWs never get vaccinated. Further, awareness about HBV and vaccine compliance are poor. The level of immunity after vaccination, in this population is also not known.

AIM: To study the sero prevalence of HBsAg, anti HBs among vaccinated and unvaccinated HCWs. Materials & Methods: A total of 208 blood samples were collected from HCWs (104 vaccinated and 104 non-vaccinated) from May – July 2011 and tested for anti HBs and HBsAg by ELISA.

Results: Of the 104 vaccinated only 28(27%) had all three doses. Among the vaccinated 61% (17/28 Three doses), 43% (17/40 Two doses) and 47% (17/36 single dose) had >100mIU/mL. Of the 104 non- vaccinated, 10 (10%) had >100mIU/mL. Among the vaccinated, 69% (35/51) of <60 kg wt and 30% (16/53) of > 60 kg had more than 100mIU/mL. Of the 52 male, 14(27%) and among the 52 female, 37(71%) had >100mIU/mL. Among the fully vaccinated, within 5 years of vaccination, 65%(13/20) and 50% of more than 5years of vaccination (4/ 8) had > 100mIU/mL.One incompletely vaccinated and another one in non vaccinated were positive for HBsAg.

Conclusion: This study highlights poor compliance of HBV among HCW. Steps need to be taken to create awareness and the vaccination should be made mandatory for all the persons in health care settings.

Keywords: HCW, HBsAg, anti HBs, vaccine compliance, protective level

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