Hepatitis B infection in hospital personnel during an eight-year period; policies for screening and pregnancy in high risk areas.

From 1972 through 1979, acute hepatitis, type B, or asymptomatic hepatitis B surface (HBs) antigenemia developed in 34 employees at Yale-New Haven Hospital. The average yearly incidence of the infection was 1.2 cases per 1,000 employees. The incidence was highest in those administering venipunctures followed, respectively, by those in the emergency room, hemodialysis unit, housestaff, laboratory, general nursing, and support service personnel. Three cases were detected during eight years of routine screening of personnel; in 1972, one of these, a pregnant nurse working in the hemodialysis unit, was moved from that unit. Subsequently, seven personnel in the unit have been transferred during pregnancy. However, staphylococcal pneumonia was acquired by one of them on a medical floor, and another nurse, seeking work in oncology, was not hired while pregnant. Both cases resulted in administrative complaints. Currently, we screen personnel in the hemodialysis and venipuncture units quarterly for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody (anti-HBs) (participation is optional for those in the emergency room and oncology) and strongly urge seronegative pregnant women to transfer from these areas.