Investigation of HBV, HCV, and HIV seropositivity in healthcare workers of reproductive age

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infections are health problems that threaten human health. This study, it was aimed to investigate HBV, HCV, and HIV seropositivity in female healthcare workers of childbearing age in our hospital. Materials and Methods: 1224 women working in our hospital, who were of childbearing age, were included in the study. The HBsAg, Anti-HBc total, Anti-HBs, Anti-HCV, and anti-HIV results of the patients were analyzed using the hospital database. Results: Seven (0.5%) of reproductive-age female healthcare workers were positive for HBsAg. While anti-HBs positivity was detected in 1128 (93.6%) of 1224 healthcare workers, anti-HBs and anti-HBc were positive in 80 (6.53%) patients. Both anti-HBs and anti-HBc were negative in 16 (1.3%) subjects (neither vaccinated nor exposed to HBV). Conclusions: Healthcare workers are at high risk for viral hepatitis and other infectious viral diseases. The fact that the frequency of HBV, HCV, and HIV among healthcare professionals of reproductive age is quite low in our region shows that the training for healthcare professionals has been quite successful in recent years, both in our country and in our region. Due to the high contagiousness of viral hepatitis B in our country, not only healthcare professionals of reproductive age but all healthcare personnel should be meticulously vaccinated. It is very important to implement standard infection control programs for HBV, HCV, and HIV and to increase compliance with national and international programs.

Keywords:

Seroprevalence, Healthcare professionals, Hepatit B virus, Hepatit C virus HİV,

PDF

___

1. Beltrami EM, Williams IT, Shapiro CN, Champerland ME. Risk and management of blood-borne infections in health care workers. Clin Microbial Rev. 2000; 13: 385-407.
2. Shoaei P, Lotfi N, Hassannejad R, Yaran M, Ataei B, Kassaian N, et al. Seroprevalence of Hepatitis C Infection among Laboratory Health Care Workers in Isfahan, Iran. Int J Prev Med. 2012; 1: 146-9.
3. Lok ASF. Hepatitis B treatment: What we know now and what remains to be researched. Hepatology 2019; 3: 8-19.
4. Mishra D, Singh H, Gogate P, Bhushan P, Singh MK, Srivastav T, et al. Prevalence of incidental and total human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B and hepatitis C seropositivity among patients posted for cataract surgery at a tertiary care center in? India. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2022; 70: 400–4
5. Global Burden of Disease 2015 HIV Collaborators. Estimates of global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and mortality of HIV, 1980-2015: The Global Burden of Disease Study 2015. Lancet HIV. 2016; 3: 361–87
6. Tabak F, Yurdaydın C, Kaymakoğlu S et al., and Guidelines Study Group VH. Diagnosis, management and treatment of hepatitis B virus infection: Turkey 2017 Clinical Practice Guidelines. Turk J Gastroenterol. 2017; 28:73-83.
7. Özkan H. Epidemiology of chronic hepatitis B in Turkey. Euroasian j hepatogastroenterol 2018;8:73
8. Willy ME, Dhillon GL, Loewen NL, Wesley RA, Henderson DK. Adverse exposures and universal precautions practices among a group of highly exposed health professionals. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 1990; 11: 351-6.
9. David L ve ark. Viral hepatitis in health care personnel at The John Hopkins Hospital. Arch Intern Med. 1993; 153: 1705-12.
10. Acikgoz, A.; Cimrin, D.; Kizildag, S.; Esen, N.; Balci, P.; Sayiner, A.A. Hepatitis A, B and C seropositivity among first-year healthcare students in western Turkey: A seroprevalence study. BMC Infect. Dis. 2020, 20, 529
11. Leblebicioğlu H, Günaydın M, Durupınar B. Hastane personelinde hepatit B seroprevalansı. Mikrobiyol Bült 1993; 27: 113-8.
12. Otkun M ve ark. Trakya Üniversitesi Egitim Uygulama ve Arastırma Hastanesi çalısanlarında hepatit B virüs infeksiyonu prevalansı. Klimik Derg. 1994; 7:79-81
13. Ulusoy S, Bilgiç A. Hastane personelinde hepatit B virus serolojik göstergeleri. İnfek Derg 1994; 8: 5-6
14. Özsoy MF ve ark. Seroprevalances of hepatitis B and C among health care workers in Turkey. Journal of Viral Hepatitis, 2003; 10: 150-156.
15. Köse S ve ark. Yüksek risk grubunda olan saglık çalısanlarında viral hepatit A, B, C seroprevalansı. Viral Hepatit Dergisi 2003; 8: 152-54.
16. Kutlu T ve ark. Saglık personelinde hepatit B taraması ve asılama. Klinik Gelisim 1995; 8: 3681-84
17. Berktaş M, Dalkılıç AE, Yavuz MT ve ark. Y.Y.Ü. Tıp Fakültesi Araştırma Hastanesi personelinde hepatit B seroprevalansı. Viral Hepatit Dergisi. 1995; 2: 87-9
18. Öksüz Ş, Yıldırım M, Özaydın Ç, Şahin İ, Arabacı H, Gemici G. Bir devlet hastanesi çalışanlarında HBV ve HCV seroprevalansının araştırılması. Ankem Derg. 2009; 23(1): 30-3.
19. İnci M, Aksebzeci AT, Yağmur G, Kartal B, Emiroğlu M, Erdem Y. Hastane çalışanlarında HBV, HCV ve HIV seropozitifliğinin araş- tırılması. Türk Hijyen ve Deneysel Biyoloji Dergisi. 2009; 66(2): 59-66.
20. Aşkar E. Sağlık Çalışanlarında Hepatit B ve Hepatit C Seropre- valansı [Uzmanlık Tezi]. İstanbul: Şişli Etfal Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi İnfeksiyon Hastalıkları ve Klinik Mikrobiyoloji Kliniği, 2006.
21. De Cock KM, Jaffe HW, Curran JW. The evolving epidemiology of HIV/AIDS. AIDS. 2012; 26(10): 1205-13