Methadone-maintained former heroin addicts, including those who are anti-HIV-1 seropositive, comply with and respond to hepatitis B vaccination

BACKGROUND & AIM: Occupational exposure to blood-borne pathogens, mainly human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV), poses a serious risk to healthcare workers (HCWs), especially in developing countries, due to the high prevalence of these pathogens and fewer safety precautions. The aim of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence of HBV, HCV, and HIV infections and to measure the vaccination practices in HCWs at three tertiary care hospitals in Delhi, India.METHOD: In a descriptive (cross-sectional) study, the HCWs of three tertiary hospitals were selected by simple random sampling and divided into four different groups (nurses, laboratory and operational theater technicians, doctors and housekeeping workers). The participants were screened for the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBs Ag), antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti HBs), antibody to hepatitis C (anti HCV), and antibody to HIV (anti HIV). From June 2010 to April 2012, a structured questionnaire was administered to 850 HCWs after obtaining consent.RESULTS: Among 850 HCWs, 51.8% were nurses and 50.6% were female with a mean (SD) age of 34(8.7) years. The overall seroprevalence of HBsAg, anti-HCV, and anti-HIV was 1.1%, 0.3%, and 0.1%, respectively. There was a high proportion of HBsAg positivity among housekeeping workers (4.9%) followed by nurses (3.3%). Out of 9 positive cases of HBsAg, 66% (6) were never vaccinated and out of a total of 11 positive subjects, 72 % (8) had previous exposure in the workplace. Complete HBV vaccination was done in 78.2% (605) of the HCWs and 11.3% (75) were partially vaccinated. Only 20.1% had checked their anti-HBs. Protective (>10 IU/mL) anti-HBs was seen in 70.6% (600) of the participants, indicating that nearly one third of HCWs were not protected against HBV infection. The majority of the study subjects (63.6%) believed that they were immunized against hepatitis B and did not need to check the immunity titer.CONCLUSION: Not all HCWs were vaccinated and the majority of vaccinated subjects did not know their immunity level. Housekeeping workers had a high seropositivity rate of infections and a low rate of vaccination against HBV. Institutional policy and training were found to be of paramount importance to improve the quality of health in HCWs.

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Seroprevalence of Anti-HIV-1, Anti-HIV-2, Hepatitis B Surface Antigen, and Anti-HCV in Eye Donors in a Tertiary Eye Hospital, Chennai, India, in the Past 13 years (2005–2017)

Cornea ◽

10.1097/ico.0000000000001926 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 38 (6) ◽

pp. 737-741

Author(s):

Lily Therese Kulandhai ◽

Hema Bhagavathi ◽

Selvi Krishnan ◽

Kaviyarasan Krishnan ◽

Mahalakshmi Balasubramaniyam ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hepatitis B ◽

Surface Antigen ◽

Hepatitis B Surface Antigen ◽

The Past ◽

Anti Hiv ◽

Hiv 1

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Prevalence of HIV and hepatitis B virus among pregnant women in Luanda (Angola): geospatial distribution and its association with socio-demographic and clinical-obstetric determinants

Virology Journal ◽

10.1186/s12985-021-01698-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Amélia Nkutxi Vueba ◽

Ricardo Almendra ◽

Paula Santana ◽

Clarissa Faria ◽

Maria do Céu Sousa

Keyword(s):

Multivariate Analysis ◽

Hepatitis B ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Hbv Infection ◽

Reproductive Age ◽

Morbidity And Mortality ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Hiv Antibodies ◽

Anti Hiv ◽

Hiv 1

Abstract Background HIV and HBV infections remain responsible for high rate of morbidity and mortality in many African Countries, affecting women and newborns. This study aims to analyze the spatial pattern of HIV and HBV infections in pregnant women in Luanda, Angola, and the statistical association between HIV and HBV and socio-economic characteristics, hygiene, and health status. Methods Detection of anti-HIV antibodies (total anti-HIV-1, anti-HIV-2 and HIV-1 p24 antigen) and Hepatitis B antigens (HBsAg, HBeAg) and antibodies (anti-HBc Total II, HBc IgM, Anti-HBsT II) was performed by Enzyme Linked Fluorescent Assay (ELFA) in serum samples of 878 pregnant women attended at the Lucrecia Paim Maternity Hospital (LPMH). Data were collected by questionnaire after written consent, and spatial distribution was assessed through a Kernel Density Function. The potential risk factors associated with HIV HBV infection were evaluated using bivariate and multivariate binomial logistic regression analysis. Results Anti-HIV antibodies were positive in 118 samples (13.4%) and HBV infection were positive in 226 (25.7%). The seroprevalence of HIV/HBV coinfection was of 6.3%. The results showed that the seroprevalence of HBV was similar in most municipalities: 25.8% in Belas; 26.6% in Viana; 27.6% in Luanda; 19.2% in Cacuaco; and 15.6% Cazenga. For HIV, the seroprevalence was also close ranges among the municipalities: 10.0% in Belas; 14.5% in Viana 14.9% in Luanda and 12.5% in Cazenga. However, the seroprevalence in municipality of in Cacuaco was lower (5.8%) and bivariate and multivariate analysis showed a lower risk for HIV in this area (OR 0.348, CI 0.083–0.986; OR 0.359, CI 0.085–1.021). The multivariate analysis had also showed a significant increased risk for HIV in women with 2 or 3 births (OR 1.860, CI 1.054–3.372). Conclusions Our results underlined the need to improve the screening and clinical follow-up of HIV and HBV in Angola, as well the educational campaigns to prevent not only the morbidity and mortality associated with these diseases, but also their transmission, mainly in women in reproductive age and pregnant, encouraging the pre-natal consultations in order to avoid mother-to-child transmission.

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Hepatitis B vaccination of methadone maintained former heroin addicts is effective The Rockefeller University and Cornell University Medical Center*, NY, NY

Hepatology ◽

10.1016/0270-9139(95)95020-6 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 22 (4) ◽

pp. A324

Keyword(s):

Hepatitis B ◽

Medical Center ◽

Hepatitis B Vaccination ◽

Heroin Addicts ◽

Cornell University

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Validation of Spiked Postmortem Blood Samples from Cornea Donors on the Abbott ARCHITECT and m2000 Systems for Viral Infections

Transfusion Medicine and Hemotherapy ◽

10.1159/000502866 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 47 (3) ◽

pp. 236-243

Author(s):

Ingo Schmack ◽

Seda Ballikaya ◽

Brigitte Erber ◽

Irina Voehringer ◽

Ulrich Burkhardt ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hepatitis B ◽

Viral Infections ◽

False Negative ◽

Hcv Rna ◽

Corneal Tissue ◽

Blood Samples ◽

Postmortem Blood ◽

Anti Hiv ◽

Hiv 1 ◽

Abbott Architect

Background: Transplantation of human corneal tissue is associated with the potential risk of transmittance of viral infections. In accordance with European directives and federal laws, in Germany each tissue donor has to be tested for infectious diseases such as hepatitis B and C virus (HBV and HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. However, most of the currently available CE-marked serologic and nucleic acid screening systems are only validated for antemortem blood. Methods: Twenty related and paired ante- and postmortem blood samples from cornea donors were obtained and subsequently analyzed for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B antibody (anti-HBc), anti-HCV, HCV RNA, anti-HIV-1/2, and HIV p24 Ag using Abbott test systems. The sera were also spiked with reference materials in concentrations giving low and high positivity for HBV, HCV, and HIV markers. Results: The spiked ante- and postmortem sera from related donors showed similar results for HBsAg, anti-HBc, anti-HCV, HCV RNA, anti-HIV, and HIV p24 Ag, indicating a high stability of viral markers in cadaveric specimens. Three cornea donors had a medical history of HBV infection and revealed anti-HBc at similar levels in the ante- and postmortem sera. In addition, there was a single postmortem sample demonstrating a weak signal of anti-HIV-1 and HIV-1 p24 Ag. False-positive or false-negative results were not detected. The results obtained with the Abbott ARCHITECT analyzer and Abbott RealTime HCV PCR showed no significant differences. Conclusion: The analyzed screening assays are suitable for the detection of infectious markers of HBV, HCV, and HIV at similar levels in spiked ante- and postmortem sera from cornea donors.

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Higher rate of long-term serologic response of four double doses vs. standard doses of hepatitis B vaccination in HIV-infected adults: 4-year follow-up of a randomised controlled trial

AIDS Research and Therapy ◽

10.1186/s12981-019-0249-8 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Romanee Chaiwarith ◽

Jutarat Praparattanapan ◽

Wilai Kotarathititum ◽

Jiraprapa Wipasa ◽

Kanokporn Chaiklang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hepatitis B ◽

Vaccination Schedule ◽

Hepatitis B Vaccination ◽

Cell Counts ◽

Cd4 Cell Counts ◽

Undetectable Plasma ◽

B Virus ◽

Cd4 Cell ◽

Hiv 1

Abstract Background We previously reported that four doses or four double doses of hepatitis B vaccination regimens could not significantly increase a response rate compared with standard doses. However, the antibody levels were higher in the four doses and four double doses groups. This study followed those patients for at least 3 years and aimed to evaluate the immunogenicity of the three vaccination regimens. Methods HIV-infected adults who had CD4+ cell counts > 200 cells/mm3, undetectable plasma HIV-1 RNA, and negative for all hepatitis B virus markers were randomly assigned to receive one of three recombinant vaccines (Hepavax-Gene® Berna, Korea) regimens: 20 μg IM at months 0, 1, and 6 (standard doses group, n = 44), 20 μg IM at months 0, 1, 2, 6 (four doses group, n = 44), or 40 μg IM at months 0, 1, 2, and 6 (four double doses group, n = 44) between February 2011 and May 4, 2012. Of 132 participants, 126 were evaluated from August 2015 to January 2016; 42 in the standard doses, 43 in the four doses, and 41 in the four double doses groups. Results At a median duration of 49.7 months (range 46.7–53.7) after completion of the primary vaccination schedule, the percentages of responders with anti-HBs ≥ 10 mIU/mL were 57.1% (95% CI 41.5–72.8%) in the standard doses group; 76.7% (95% CI 63.6–89.9%) in the four doses group (P = 0.067 vs. the standard doses group); and 80.5% (95% CI 67.8–93.2%) in the four double doses group (P = 0.033 vs. the standard doses group). Factors associated with a responder were the vaccination schedule (either four doses or four double doses groups) and a younger age. Conclusions Despite the highly effectiveness of the standard hepatitis B vaccination regimen at 6 months after completion, the long-term immunogenicity was lower than the four double doses regimen among HIV-infected adults with CD4+ cell counts > 200 cells/mm3 and undetectable plasma HIV-1 RNA. The standard vaccination regimen may not be the best strategy to provide long-term immune response against hepatitis B virus among HIV-infected individuals. Trial registration NCT1289106, NCT02713620

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