Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science

Korean society of Biological Nursing Science (한국기초간호학회)
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Exposure and Immune Status of Health Care Workers Accidentally Exposed to Hepatitis B Virus in a Healthcare Setting

의료종사자들의 B형간염 노출과 면역상태 조사

  • Kim, Og-Son (Department of Nursing, Youngdong University) ;
  • Yoon, Sung-Won (Infection Control Office, Samsung Medical Center)
  • 김옥선 (영동대학교 간호학과) ;
  • 윤성원 (삼성서울병원 감염관리실)
  • Received : 2009.09.16
  • Accepted : 2009.11.23
  • Published : 2009.12.31
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Abstract

Purpose: The study aimed at monitoring the immune status of health care workers (HCWs) of a tertiary hospital after accidental exposure to Hepatitis B virus (HBV). Methods: Between January 2004 and December 2006, 353 cases of exposure to Hepatitis B virus were reported. The HBV-exposed HCWs were required to undergo follow-up serum tests to analyze their immune status one year after the exposure. The obtained data were then analyzed to determine the incidence of exposure and of sero-conversion. Results: In this hospital, an average of 9.8 cases of Hepatitis B exposure among HCWs was reported in a month. Follow-up tests conducted after exposure revealed that 90.4% of the HBV-exposed HCWs were positive for Hepatitis B antibody and 66.9% of the HBV-exposed HCWs were reported to have antibody levels exceeding 10 mIU/mL. Results of serum tests for the HBV antigen conducted one year after exposure were negative for all the exposed HCWs. Conclusion: Among the 79.6% of the HCWs who underwent serum tests one year after exposure the HBV sero-conversion rate was 0.0%. However, a further investigation in the form of long-term and multi-center studies is required to confirm this result. Furthermore, an active system should be established to ensure that all exposed HCWs undergo follow-up serum tests.

Keywords

References

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