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

Luca Coppeta, Andrea Pompei, Ottavia Balbi, Ludovico M. De Zordo, Federica Mormone, Sara Policardo, Piergiorgio Lieto, Antonio Pietroiusti and Andrea Magrini
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Luca Coppeta: Department of Occupational Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Viale Oxford 81, 00188 Roma, Italy
Andrea Pompei: Department of Occupational Diseases, Toulouse University Hospital, Bâtiment Turiaf, Place du Dr Baylac, 31059, Toulouse Cedex 9, France
Ottavia Balbi: Department of Occupational Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Viale Oxford 81, 00188 Roma, Italy
Ludovico M. De Zordo: Department of Occupational Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Viale Oxford 81, 00188 Roma, Italy
Federica Mormone: Department of Occupational Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Viale Oxford 81, 00188 Roma, Italy
Sara Policardo: Department of Occupational Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Viale Oxford 81, 00188 Roma, Italy
Piergiorgio Lieto: Department of Occupational Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Viale Oxford 81, 00188 Roma, Italy
Antonio Pietroiusti: Department of Occupational Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Viale Oxford 81, 00188 Roma, Italy
Andrea Magrini: Department of Occupational Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Viale Oxford 81, 00188 Roma, Italy

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 9, 1-9

Abstract: 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.

Keywords: HBV; healthcare workers; vaccination; booster; immunological memory (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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