Assessment of Immunization Rate of Hepatitis B Vaccination among Health Care Personnel in Tehran

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis B is one of the most important etiologic factors of acute and chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis of the liver and hepatocellular carcinoma. The best preventive method is vaccination. The Aim of the study was to evaluate the immunization rate against hepatitis B in medical health personnel.

Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 331 health care workers employed in public, semiprivate, and private hospitals that had received the complete dosage of vaccination with an average duration of 0-3 years since the last dose, and had not previously received any booster or HBV - Immunoglobulin. The Shariati (public), Imam Khomeini (public), Baqiyatallah (semi-private) and Day (private) hospitals were the sites of our research. Regarding the age and occupational status, persons were randomly selected and data relating to demographic aspects and serum anti-HBS titer were recorded in all individuals and then were evaluated.

Results: Results show that out of the 331 cases, 47 (14.2%) were non-responder (Anti-HBs titer ‹10 IU/L), 160 (54.4%) had low  response (10|£|Anti-HBs titer |£|100 IU/L), and 104 persons (31.4%) were found to have good response (Anti-HBs titer ›100 IU/liter). There was no significant relationship between the antibody titer and other variables including age, gender, smoking, body mass index (BMI) and duration since last dose of vaccine.

Conclusions: We suggest the assessment of Anti-HBs titer after complete vaccination in high-risk groups to find non- and low-responders in order to revaccinate them.