Author/Authors :
Kalkan ، Irem Akdemir Department of Infectious Disease and Clinical Microbiology - Ankara University , Cinar ، Gule Department of Infectious Disease and Clinical Microbiology - Ankara University , Mut ، Ayse Nur Usturali Department of Epideomiology - Ankara University , Karasahin ، Omer Department of Infectious Disease and Clinical Microbiology - Erzurum State Hospital , Gurbuz ، Yunus Department of Infectious Disease and Clinical Microbioloy - Diskapi Hospital , Tekin ، Asiye Infection Control Comitee - Diskapi Hospital , Yuksel ، Esma Departmant of Infectious Disease and Clinical Microbiology - Cigli Hospital , Suer ، Kaya Departmant of Infectious Disease and Clinical Microbiology - Yakın Dogu University , Hatipoglu ، Cigdem Ataman Departmant of Infectious Disease and Clinical Microbiology - Ankara Research and Education Hospital , Altun ، Serife Departmant of Infectious Disease and Clinical Microbiology - Ankara Research and Education Hospital , Cavlak ، Halime Departmant of Infectious Disease and Clinical Microbiology - Ankara City Hospital , Celikbas ، Aysel Kocagul Departmant of Infectious Disease and Clinical Microbiology - Hitit University , Azak ، Emel Departmant of Infectious Disease and Clinical Microbiology - Kocaeli University , Guler ، Ozlem Departmant of Infectious Disease and Clinical Microbiology - Kocaeli University , Cerik ، Hatun Ozturk Departmant of Infectious Disease and Clinical Microbiology - Igdir Hospital , Bolukbasioglu ، Ferah Ergin Departmant of Infectious Disease and Clinical Microbiology - Uskudar Hospital , Saricioglu ، Elif Mukime Departmant of Infectious Disease and Clinical Microbiology - Yenimahalle Hospital , Sonmezer ، Meliha Cagla Departmant of Infectious Disease and Clinical Microbiology - Hacettepe University , Kul ، Gulnur Departmant of Infectious Disease and Clinical Microbiology - Kirikhan Hospital Hatay , Konya ، Petek Sarlak Departmant of Infectious Disease and Clinical Microbiology - Afyon University , Sarica ، Utku Can Department of Infectious Disease and Clinical Microbiology - Ankara University , Torun ، Ayse Departmant of Infectious Disease and Clinical Microbiology - Sanluurfa Research and Education Hospital , Binay ، Umut Devrim Departmant of Infectious Disease and Clinical Microbiology - Erzincan University , Karakecili ، Faruk Departmant of Infectious Disease and Clinical Microbiology - Erzincan University , Akgul ، Fethiye Department of Infectious Disease and Clinical Microbiology - Batman State Hospital , Yildiz ، Merve Departmant of Infectious Disease and Clinical Microbiology - Akdeniz University , Inan ، Dilara Departmant of Infectious Disease and Clinical Microbiology - Akdeniz University , Batırel ، Ayse Departmant of Infectious Disease and Clinical Microbiology - Kartal Research and Education Hospital , Ozatan ، Duru Mustanoglu Departmant of Infectious Disease and Clinical Microbiology - Dumplupinar University , Korkmaz ، Pinar Departmant of Infectious Disease and Clinical Microbiology - Dumplupinar University , Isik ، Mehmet Emirhan Departmant of Infectious Disease and Clinical Microbiology - Kartal Kosuyolu Research and Education Hospital , Kizmaz ، Yesim Uygun Departmant of Infectious Disease and Clinical Microbiology - Kartal Kosuyolu Research and Education Hospital , Ulu ، Yildiz Departmant of Infectious Disease and Clinical Microbiology - Kandıra Hospital , Memikoglu ، Kemal Osman Department of Infectious Disease and Clinical Microbiology - Ankara University , Azap ، Alpay Department of Infectious Disease and Clinical Microbiology - Ankara University
Abstract :
Background: The hepatitis B virus (HBV) is one of the major causes of chronic liver disease. From the perspective of hospital workers (HWs), employees are at risk of hepatitis B infection because of occupational exposure. Apart from this occupational risk, health professionals may still be affected by HBV, depending on the epidemiological characteristics of the country and geographical region they live in. Objectives: This study aimed to determine HBV, HCV, and HIV seroprevalence among HWs using data obtained from 21 hospitals located in six geographical regions in Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Methods: The study was designed as a retrospective, multicentre, descriptive study. Twenty hospitals from Turkey and one hospital from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus were involved in the study. The variables of the study were vaccination status against HBV and hepatitis A and HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HBcIgG, anti-HAV IgG, anti-HCV, anti-HDV, and anti-HIV serology results belonging to the previous year. Results: Women constituted 58.9% (n = 5,622) of the HWs included in the study. The mean age was 36.3 ± 9.09 years (min = 18, max = 72). In terms of occupation, 42.5% (n = 4,064) were nurses/health officers, and 24.8% (n = 2365) were physicians. HBsAg seroprevalence was found to be 1.8% (n = 169; 95% CI = 1.5% - 2.0%), while anti-HBs seropositivity was 75.7% (n = 7,234). About 7.3% (n = 701) had natural immunity to hepatitis B. About 21.6% (n = 2,066) of the HWs did not receive hepatitis B vaccine. Conclusions: This study is the first study involving a large sample size from different locations of Turkey. According to the results, hepatitis B and hepatitis A vaccines should be administered to susceptible individuals and HWs.
Keywords :
Hospital Staff , Epidemiology , Hepatitis B , Viral Hepatitis , Occupational Health
