[Homes for the aged. Are they a high risk population for hepatitis B?]

In a previous study we observed a high prevalence of infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) among nurses and maids of the elder's home at the Lincoln Town Hospital, Lincoln, province of Buenos Aires, Argentine Republic. The purpose of this study was to know the prevalence of infection with HBV and analyze the serologic pattern found in old people of the home. We studied 38 people of both sexes, older than 60 years, who live at the home. The control group was formed with 91 people with the same characteristics but from the ambulatory clinic. In both groups anti-HBc, anti-HBs and AgHBs were detected by ELISA method. Results were: 3 subjects (7.9%) in the studied group and 6 (6.5%) in the control group presented markers repeatedly. The was no significant statistic difference between both groups (P 0.05). The old people from the elder home of this city, are not in great danger of HBV infection. We relate the high prevalence among nurses and maids with labor and extra labor factors and not with their specific work in this elder home.