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Persistence of Immunity for Hepatitis B Virus among Heathcare Workers and Italian Medical Students 20 Years after Vaccination

Background: Immunization of healthcare workers (HCWs) and medical students for the hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a crucial part of the hospital infection control programs. The aim of our study was to evaluate the persistence of anti-HBV specific antibodies in HCWs vaccinated during infancy or adolescen...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Coppeta, Luca, Pompei, Andrea, Balbi, Ottavia, De Zordo, Ludovico M., Mormone, Federica, Policardo, Sara, Lieto, Piergiorgio, Pietroiusti, Antonio, Magrini, Andrea
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: MDPI 2019
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6539932/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31035698
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16091515
Descripción
Sumario:Background: Immunization of healthcare workers (HCWs) and medical students for the hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a crucial part of the hospital infection control programs. The aim of our study was to evaluate the persistence of anti-HBV specific antibodies in HCWs vaccinated during infancy or adolescence. Methods: Medical records of 734 consecutive subjects born after 1980 (481 females, 65.5% and 253 males, 34.5%) who underwent serological testing for anti-hepatitis B surface antibodies (anti-HBs) were evaluated. Results: A non-protective titer (<10 mUI) was found in 88/734 (12.0%) subjects; 84 (47.8%) of them received a booster dose of anti-hepatitis B vaccine and the anti-HBs titer of 58 subjects was measured 1 month after administration. A protective titer (anti-HBs >10 mIU/mL) was observed in almost 90% of subjects receiving the booster dose. Conclusions: A substantial percentage of HCWs had a non-protective anti-HBs titer at the time of the first employment, especially those vaccinated at birth age. However, the response to the booster dose showed that in these subjects, an anti-HBs titer <10 mIU/mL was due to the physiological decline of antibodies over the years. Therefore, primary immunization in childhood is highly effective and provides lasting immunity against HBV infection.