Follow-up of needlesticks in medical staff

In an on-going study, 104 events of needlestick or contamination of apparent skin lesions were evaluated for the risk of hepatitis. Whenever possible, a blood sample of the 'donor' was screened for HBsAg as well as for elevated transaminases. Members of the staff were bled immediately after exposure and were followed up for 9 months. At present the follow-up is completed in twenty probands. - Hepatitis B immunoglobulin (= HBIG) was given in 51 cases. HBsAg was detected in 21 donors and strongly supposed in 27 cases. Only one nurse developed acute hepatitis B ten months after exposure to HBsAg-positive blood. 53 probands were exposed to HBsAg-negative blood. 32 persons received SIG. Only 5 'donors' were classified as probable Non-A, Non-B hepatitis which did not induce apparent infections in passively immunized persons. 23 persons did receive neither HBIG nor SIG. 2 persons had been exposed to HBsAg-positive blood by needlestick, still being without seroconversion. Passive immunization after needlestick should be performed after testing blood samples of donors and recipient. After exposure to non-A, non-B hepatitis, secondary infections did not appear in passively immunized persons.