Estimation of Anti-Hepatitis B Antibody Status of Vaccinated Health Care Workers in a Medical College Hospital in Central Kerala, India

摘要

Introduction: Healthcare professionals in developing countries have high risk for acquiring Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection. Vaccination of this risk group is the only remedy to reduce occupational HBV infection. Hepatitis B surface antibody (antiHBs) titer is a reliable marker for protective immune response in the vaccinees. Non-responders continue to be at risk of acquiring HBV infection. Most of the Health Care Workers (HCWs) in the institution where the study was conducted has taken full course of HBV vaccination within past two years. Estimation of their immune status following vaccination can help them to decide about the post-exposure prophylaxis during occupational exposure. Aim: To estimate the anti-HBs titer of HCWs who has been fully vaccinated with Hepatitis B vaccine and to observe the pattern of anti-HBs titer with age, sex, Body Mass Index (BMI) and diabetic status of the participant. Materials and Methods: A descriptive study was conducted on 50 vaccinated HCWs. Their anti-HBs titres were estimated using Enzyme Linked Fluorescent Assay (ELFA) technique and were classified in to non-responders, weak responders and good responders. The pattern of anti-HBs titer with age, sex, BMI and diabetic status of the participant was also observed. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS 21. The p-value 0.05). Conclusion: Majority of the study population achieved adequate anti-HBs antibody levels after a full course of vaccination. The non-responders in the study population point towards the need for the estimation of post-vaccination antibody titer as they may be comparatively vulnerable to HBV infection. Mandatory HBV vaccination and post-vaccination anti-HBs titer estimation in HCWs should be emphasised to make dramatic reduction in the incidence of the disease following an occupational exposure.