OBJECTIVE: To study the humoral immune responses, safety, and tolerability of intradermal recombinant hepatitis B vaccination in healthcare workers (HCWs) nonresponsive to previous repeated intramuscular vaccination. DESIGN: An open, prospective, before-after trial. SETTING: A tertiary referral hospital and surrounding district health service in Queensland, Australia. PARTICIPANTS: Hospital and community HCWs nonresponsive to previous intramuscular hepatitis B vaccination. METHODS: Intradermal recombinant hepatitis B vaccine was administered every second week for a maximum of 4 doses. Hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs) responses were assessed 2 weeks after each dose. RESULTS: Protective anti-HBs levels developed in 17 (94%) of 18 study subjects. Three doses resulted in seroconversion of all responding subjects and the highest geometric mean antibody concentration. The vaccine was well tolerated. CONCLUSION: More than 90% of previously nonresponsive HCWs responded to intradermal recombinant hepatitis B vaccine with protective anti-HBs levels.
OBJECTIVE: To study the humoral immune responses, safety, and tolerability of intradermal recombinant hepatitis B vaccination in healthcare workers (HCWs) nonresponsive to previous repeated intramuscular vaccination. DESIGN: An open, prospective, before-after trial. SETTING: A tertiary referral hospital and surrounding district health service in Queensland, Australia. PARTICIPANTS: Hospital and community HCWs nonresponsive to previous intramuscular hepatitis B vaccination. METHODS: Intradermal recombinant hepatitis B vaccine was administered every second week for a maximum of 4 doses. Hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs) responses were assessed 2 weeks after each dose. RESULTS: Protective anti-HBs levels developed in 17 (94%) of 18 study subjects. Three doses resulted in seroconversion of all responding subjects and the highest geometric mean antibody concentration. The vaccine was well tolerated. CONCLUSION: More than 90% of previously nonresponsive HCWs responded to intradermal recombinant hepatitis B vaccine with protective anti-HBs levels.
Authors: John A Mikszta; John P Dekker; Noel G Harvey; Cheryl H Dean; John M Brittingham; Joanne Huang; Vincent J Sullivan; Beverly Dyas; Chad J Roy; Robert G Ulrich Journal: Infect Immun Date: 2006-10-09 Impact factor: 3.441