Immune response to hepatitis B vaccination and factors associated with poor immune response among healthcare workers

Abstract Background Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a vaccine-preventable infection that can spread in healthcare setting. Data on HBV infections and vaccine in African healthcare workers (HCWs) are limited. We estimated HBV infection prevalence, hepatitis B vaccination status and identified factors associated with vaccination in one Kenyan county. Methods Randomly selected HCWs completed a questionnaire about HBV exposure and self-reported immunization histories, and provided blood for testing of selected HBV biomarkers to assess HBV infection and vaccination status: HBV core antibodies (anti-HBc), HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) and HBV surface antibodies (anti-HBs). Prevalence odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated to identify factors associated with vaccination. Results Among 312 HCWs surveyed, median age was 31 years (range: 19–67 years). Of 295 blood samples tested, 13 (4%) were anti-HBc and HBsAg-positive evidencing chronic HBV infection; 139 (47%) had protective anti-HBs levels. Although 249 (80%) HCWs received ≥1 HBV vaccine dose, only 119 (48%) received all three recommended doses. Complete vaccination was more likely among those working in hospitals compared to those working in primary healthcare facilities (OR = 2.5; 95% CI: 1.4–4.3). Conclusion We recommend strengthening county HCW vaccination, and collecting similar data nationally to guide HBV prevention and control.

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Factors associated with needlestick injuries among healthcare workers: implications for prevention

BMC Health Services Research ◽

10.1186/s12913-021-07110-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Kifah Habib Alfulayw ◽

Sultan T. Al-Otaibi ◽

Hatem A. Alqahtani

Keyword(s):

Retrospective Study ◽

Hepatitis B ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Preventive Measures ◽

Primary Source ◽

Hepatitis B Vaccination ◽

Needlestick Injuries ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Comprehensive Program ◽

Surgical Devices

Abstract Background Our study sought to determine the frequency of Needlestick injuries (NSIs) among Healthcare Workers (HCWs) working at governmental hospital and to study the factors that associated with occurrence of NSIs, and to develop recommendations for a comprehensive program for prevention. Methods Retrospective study of all reported cases of NSIs in the period from April 2016 to May 2018 among healthcare workers at a governmental hospital. Results Incidence of NSIs over 26 months was 8.4% among all participants. Nurses were the most affected staff (52.5%) resulted commonly from disposing syringes (58.9%). In contrast, the incidence of NSIs among physicians was 24.9% where surgical devices were the primary source of NSIs among them (40%). Failure to complete all required hepatitis B vaccination was common among expatriates of the participants of this study. Conclusions NSIs was common among HCWs participated in this study. Preventive measures should be implemented including adequate hepatitis B immunization.

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Do Occupational Factors Affect the Immune Response to Hepatitis B Vaccination in Healthcare Workers?

Archives of Clinical Infectious Diseases ◽

10.5812/archcid.96758 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Nazanin Izadi ◽

Omid Aminian ◽

Sahar Eftekhari ◽

Reza Piruznia

Keyword(s):

Immune Response ◽

Hepatitis B ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Hepatitis B Vaccination ◽

Occupational Factors

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Immune response to hepatitis B vaccine following complete immunization of children attending two regional hospitals in the Southwest region of Cameroon: a cross sectional study

BMC Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1186/s12879-021-06913-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Ephesians N. Anutebeh ◽

Lambed Tatah ◽

Vitalis F. Feteh ◽

Desmond Aroke ◽

Jules C. N. Assob ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Immune Response ◽

Hepatitis B ◽

Large Scale ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Hepatitis B Vaccine ◽

Hepatitis B Vaccination ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Regional Hospitals ◽

Surface Antibody

Abstract Background Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection despite being a vaccine preventable disease remains a global public health problem. In Cameroon, the hepatitis B vaccine was introduced in the expanded program on immunisation in 2005, but there has been limited evaluation of the HBV surface antibody response post vaccination. Objective We investigated the immune response to hepatitis B vaccine in infants who received the DPT-Hep B-Hib vaccine, and we assessed HBsAg carriage in non-responders. We also investigated factors associated with non-response or poor response. Methods Using a hospital based cross sectional design and a structured questionnaire over a four-month period (January to April 2019), we collected data to determine factors associated with hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs) response from infants aged 6 to 9 months attending infant welfare clinics (IWC) at the Buea and Limbe regional hospitals. We collected venous blood and measured anti-HBs titres using a quantitative Foresight® ELISA. We entered and analysed data using EpiData version 3.1 and SPSS version 25 respectively. Results Of the 161 infants enrolled, 159 (98.8%) developed anti-HBs antibodies. Of these 159, 157 (97.5%) and 117 (72.7%) developed ≥ 10.0 mIU/ml (seroprotection) and ≥ 100.0 mIU/ml anti-HBs titres respectively. Being younger (6 months old) was associated with seroprotection (Cramer V = 0.322, p = 0.001). Spearman rho’s relational analysis showed that immunity against HBV reduced as the duration since the last dose increased (r = −0.172; P = 0.029). However, a Firth logistic regression showed no significant association of factors with inadequate immunity. All 12 (7.5%) infants exposed to HBV at birth, received the hepatitis B vaccine at birth, including four who received HBIG, and all were protected. Four infants (2.5%) had anti-HBs titres < 10.0 mIU/mL (non-responders) but had no peculiarity. Conclusion The seroprotective rate following hepatitis B vaccination of infants is high even in exposed infants. Our study suggests that Cameroon’s HBV vaccine in the Expanded Program on Immunisation (EPI) is effective against HBV, although we could not account for the 2.5% non-response rate. Large scale studies are needed to further explore non-response to the vaccine.

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Increasing hepatitis B vaccination coverage of healthcare workers — global lessons for South Africa

Current Opinion in Immunology ◽

10.1016/j.coi.2021.03.010 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 71 ◽

pp. 6-12

Author(s):

Rosemary Joyce Burnett ◽

Angela Dramowski ◽

Edina Amponsah-Dacosta ◽

Johanna Catharina Meyer

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Hepatitis B ◽

Vaccination Coverage ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Hepatitis B Vaccination

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Future Healthcare Workers and Hepatitis B Vaccination: A New Generation

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18157783 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (15) ◽

pp. 7783

Author(s):

Andrea Trevisan ◽

Paola Mason ◽

Annamaria Nicolli ◽

Stefano Maso ◽

Marco Fonzo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hepatitis B ◽

Antibody Titer ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Lower Percentage ◽

Hepatitis B Vaccination ◽

High Morbidity ◽

One Year ◽

Mandatory Vaccination ◽

University Of Padua ◽

The University

Before the introduction of universal vaccination, hepatitis B caused high morbidity and mortality, especially among healthcare workers. In the present study, the immune status against hepatitis B was assessed in a cohort of 11,188 students of the degree courses of the School of Medicine of the University of Padua (Italy) who had been subjected to mandatory vaccination in childhood or adolescence and who will be future healthcare workers. The variables that influence the antibody response to vaccination are mainly the age at which the vaccine was administered and sex. If vaccination was administered before one year of age, there is a high probability (around 50%) of having an antibody titer lower than 10 IU/L compared to those vaccinated after one year of age (12.8%). The time between vaccine and analysis is not decisive. Furthermore, female sex, but only if vaccination was administered after one year of age, shows a significant (p = 0.0008) lower percentage of anti-HBs below 10 IU/L and a greater antibody titer (p < 0.0001). In conclusion, the differences related to the age of vaccination induce more doubts than answers. The only plausible hypothesis, in addition to the different immune responses (innate and adaptive), is the type of vaccine. This is not easy to verify because vaccination certificates rarely report it.

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