Locquet C, Marande JL, Choudat D, Vidal-Trecan G. Hepatitis B vaccination in women healthcare workers: a seroepidemiological survey.
Eur J Epidemiol 2007;
22:113-9. [PMID:
17295098 DOI:
10.1007/s10654-006-9094-x]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2006] [Accepted: 12/12/2006] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To assess the concentration and kinetics of antibody response after hepatitis B vaccination among women healthcare workers.
DESIGN
Longitudinal retrospective seroepidemiological survey among women vaccinated against hepatitis B working in a university hospital and followed-up in an occupational health department. A structured form was used to collect socio-demographic characteristics, clinical data, age at vaccination, vaccination schedule, measurement of antibodies to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs antibody). Subjects were considered seronegative against hepatitis B when anti-HBs antibody concentration was less than 10 mIU/ml.
SETTING
A 1260-bed general hospital in Paris, France.
PARTICIPANTS
All women healthcare workers visiting the occupational health department between January 1997 1st and December 2000 31st and who had a measurement of anti-HBs antibody.
RESULTS
Irrespective of the age at the primary vaccination, 810 (92%) women were seropositive (anti-HBs antibody > or = 10 mIU/ml). Only 22 women (4.5%) vaccinated before 26 years of age were seronegative, against 46 (13.2%) vaccinated after 25 years of age (p < 0.001). Seven years after vaccination, 78% of women were still seropositive. An inadequate vaccination schedule (adjusted hazard ratio (HR), 3.0; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.6-5.5) and an age greater than 25 years at primary vaccination (HR, 2.6; 95% CI, 1.5-4.4) were associated with being seronegative against hepatitis B.
CONCLUSIONS
Despite vaccination, some women healthcare workers were seronegative against hepatitis B virus. Vaccinating early in the career of a health-care worker using an adequate schedule seems key-elements to guarantee an anti-HBs measurement > or =10 mIU/ml.
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