Hepatitis B infection in health care personnel of an institution for mentally handicapped children and adults.

The health care personnel (HCP) of an institution for the mentally handicapped were serially tested for the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBSAg) and antibody over a period of 1.5 years. HBSAg was present in 1.8% and anti-HBS in 20.8% of HCP. The prevalence of seropositive HCP appeared to be related to the age and the prevalence of seropositive residents cared for by the HCP. The occurrence of seropositivity was higher in the HCP who cared for children under 15 years of age, who demonstrated a high prevalence of HBSAg or anti-HBS. Although the prevalence of HBSAg-positive subjects was 4- to 8-fold lower in HCP than in residents, the degree of seroconversion in susceptible seronegative HCP and residents was strikingly similar. These observations suggest that HCP working in a closed institutional setting are at considerable risk of contacting hepatitis B infection.