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Hepatitis B in two Italian General Hospitals
Bollettino Dell'Istituto Sieroterapico Milanese
|September 30, 1983
Summary
Hepatitis B is a significant occupational hazard for hospital staff in Italy, with over a third showing prior infection markers. Immunization is crucial to prevent thousands of new Hepatitis B infections annually in this high-risk group.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Infectious Diseases
- Virology
Background:
- Hepatitis B virus (HBV) poses an occupational risk to healthcare workers.
- Understanding HBV prevalence in hospital settings is crucial for targeted prevention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the prevalence of Hepatitis B infection markers among hospital staff in central Italy.
- To identify specific occupational risk factors associated with HBV infection within hospitals.
Main Methods:
- Blood testing of 1212 hospital staff (80.2% of total staff) across two hospitals.
- Statistical analysis to determine odds ratios for risk factors like job role and department.
- Calculation of attributable risk to quantify the impact of hospital work on HBV burden.
Main Results:
- 33.7% of tested staff had at least one marker of prior Hepatitis B infection.
- Higher risk observed for professional nurses (OR=2.0) and staff in high-risk departments (OR=1.7).
- Professional nurses in high-risk departments faced the highest risk (OR=5.0) compared to low-risk clerks/aides.
Conclusions:
- Hepatitis B is a confirmed occupational hazard for hospital personnel exposed to blood.
- Targeted immunization programs for hospital workers in Italy could prevent approximately 6,500 new HBV infections annually.