SEROEPIDEMIOLOGICAL PROFILE AND RISK FACTORS FOR HEPATITIS B INFECTION IN HEALTH CARE WORKERS IN DIALYSIS UNITS

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of serological markers of hepatitis B and risk factors in health care workers of dialysis units. An analytical descriptive transversal study was performed with 138 health professionals from six dialysis units of Recife city, Brazil. Blood samples were collected between March and July, 2007 and tested for the HBsAg markers (HBsAg, anti-HBs and total anti-HBc) using ELISA method of third generation. Two softwares were used for statistical analysis: the Epi Info (v. 6.04) for the univariate analysis and the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences- SPSS (v. 8.0) for multiple logistical regression. The prevalence of hepatitis B infections, determined by presence of the HBsAg and/or total anti-HBc markers in dialysis staff was 13%. Positivity rate for anti-HBs was 75.4%. However, 11.6% of them were susceptible to infection. In the univariate analysis the variables: length of employment in hemodialysis, quantity of individual protective equipment (IPEs), surgery and/or dentary-surgery antecedents and incomplete vaccination against HBV presented statistically significant association with HBV seropositivity. But, according the multivariate analysis, only length of employment in hemodialysis, quantity of individual protective equipment (IPEs) used and incomplete vaccination against HBV presented statistically significant association with HBV seropositivity. These results showed that dialysis units have been focused on reducing the occurrence of exposure to blood and body fluids. These strategies include reevaluating the kind of material used, demanding strict compliance for protection in risky occupational procedures, the use of gloves and other barriers and a follow-up with serological tests whenever there is a case of work-related injury with biological material, as well as mandatory vaccination after exposure. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17525/vrrjournal.v14i1.22