C Locquet1, J-L Marande, D Choudat, G Vidal-Trecan. 1. Service de Médecine du Travail, Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris Descartes, 45, rue des Saints-Pères, 75006, Paris, France. celine.locquet@univ-paris5.fr
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess the concentration and kinetics of antibody response after hepatitis B vaccination among women healthcare workers. DESIGN: Longitudinal retrospective seroepidemiological survey among women vaccinated against hepatitis B working in a university hospital and followed-up in an occupational health department. A structured form was used to collect socio-demographic characteristics, clinical data, age at vaccination, vaccination schedule, measurement of antibodies to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs antibody). Subjects were considered seronegative against hepatitis B when anti-HBs antibody concentration was less than 10 mIU/ml. SETTING: A 1260-bed general hospital in Paris, France. PARTICIPANTS: All women healthcare workers visiting the occupational health department between January 1997 1st and December 2000 31st and who had a measurement of anti-HBs antibody. RESULTS: Irrespective of the age at the primary vaccination, 810 (92%) women were seropositive (anti-HBs antibody > or = 10 mIU/ml). Only 22 women (4.5%) vaccinated before 26 years of age were seronegative, against 46 (13.2%) vaccinated after 25 years of age (p < 0.001). Seven years after vaccination, 78% of women were still seropositive. An inadequate vaccination schedule (adjusted hazard ratio (HR), 3.0; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.6-5.5) and an age greater than 25 years at primary vaccination (HR, 2.6; 95% CI, 1.5-4.4) were associated with being seronegative against hepatitis B. CONCLUSIONS: Despite vaccination, some women healthcare workers were seronegative against hepatitis B virus. Vaccinating early in the career of a health-care worker using an adequate schedule seems key-elements to guarantee an anti-HBs measurement > or =10 mIU/ml.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the concentration and kinetics of antibody response after hepatitis B vaccination among women healthcare workers. DESIGN: Longitudinal retrospective seroepidemiological survey among women vaccinated against hepatitis B working in a university hospital and followed-up in an occupational health department. A structured form was used to collect socio-demographic characteristics, clinical data, age at vaccination, vaccination schedule, measurement of antibodies to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs antibody). Subjects were considered seronegative against hepatitis B when anti-HBs antibody concentration was less than 10 mIU/ml. SETTING: A 1260-bed general hospital in Paris, France. PARTICIPANTS: All women healthcare workers visiting the occupational health department between January 1997 1st and December 2000 31st and who had a measurement of anti-HBs antibody. RESULTS: Irrespective of the age at the primary vaccination, 810 (92%) women were seropositive (anti-HBs antibody > or = 10 mIU/ml). Only 22 women (4.5%) vaccinated before 26 years of age were seronegative, against 46 (13.2%) vaccinated after 25 years of age (p < 0.001). Seven years after vaccination, 78% of women were still seropositive. An inadequate vaccination schedule (adjusted hazard ratio (HR), 3.0; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.6-5.5) and an age greater than 25 years at primary vaccination (HR, 2.6; 95% CI, 1.5-4.4) were associated with being seronegative against hepatitis B. CONCLUSIONS: Despite vaccination, some women healthcare workers were seronegative against hepatitis B virus. Vaccinating early in the career of a health-care worker using an adequate schedule seems key-elements to guarantee an anti-HBs measurement > or =10 mIU/ml.
Authors: J L Williams; C J Christensen; B J McMahon; L R Bulkow; H H Cagle; J S Mayers; C L Zanis; A J Parkinson; H S Margolis Journal: Vaccine Date: 2001-07-16 Impact factor: 3.641