BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the campaign for hepatitis B mass immunisation of children and teenagers, introduced in 1991, on the incidence of and risk factors for hepatitis B in Italy. METHODS: Hepatitis B cases reported to the surveillance system for type-specific acute viral hepatitis (SEIEVA) during the period 1987-1997 were used to estimate incidence. To assess the association between potential risk factors and hepatitis B cases, hepatitis A cases generated by the same surveillance system were used as controls. RESULTS: During the period 1987-1997, 8275 acute hepatitis B cases were reported to SEIEVA. Hepatitis B incidence declined from 10.4/100,000 in 1987 to 2.9/100,000 in 1997. The fall was more evident before than after the introduction of compulsory vaccination against hepatitis B. The results of multivariate analysis showed that during the years 1995-1997, blood transfusion, intravenous drug use, surgical intervention, dental therapy, other parenteral exposures, multiple sexual partners, and being in the household of a chronic HBsAg carrier were all exposures independently associated with hepatitis B. CONCLUSIONS: The strong association linking acute hepatitis B with iatrogenic exposures, which are more common in adults, suggests that the present immunisation strategy should be combined with the implementation of non-immunologic preventive measures.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the campaign for hepatitis B mass immunisation of children and teenagers, introduced in 1991, on the incidence of and risk factors for hepatitis B in Italy. METHODS:Hepatitis B cases reported to the surveillance system for type-specific acute viral hepatitis (SEIEVA) during the period 1987-1997 were used to estimate incidence. To assess the association between potential risk factors and hepatitis B cases, hepatitis A cases generated by the same surveillance system were used as controls. RESULTS: During the period 1987-1997, 8275 acute hepatitis B cases were reported to SEIEVA. Hepatitis B incidence declined from 10.4/100,000 in 1987 to 2.9/100,000 in 1997. The fall was more evident before than after the introduction of compulsory vaccination against hepatitis B. The results of multivariate analysis showed that during the years 1995-1997, blood transfusion, intravenous drug use, surgical intervention, dental therapy, other parenteral exposures, multiple sexual partners, and being in the household of a chronic HBsAg carrier were all exposures independently associated with hepatitis B. CONCLUSIONS: The strong association linking acute hepatitis B with iatrogenic exposures, which are more common in adults, suggests that the present immunisation strategy should be combined with the implementation of non-immunologic preventive measures.
Authors: M Fasano; A Saracino; G Carosi; F Mazzotta; N Marino; E Sagnelli; G B Gaeta; G Angarano; G Verucchi; P Bellissima; C Angeletti; T Santantonio Journal: Infection Date: 2012-12-21 Impact factor: 3.553