ABSTRACT
Background and study aims: globally, More than 350 million individuals are chronically infected with hepatitis B virus [HBV], and >20 million of them are co-infected with hepatitis D virus [HDV]. The aim of this study was to determine the pattern of HDV infection in patients with chronic hepatitis B in three main tertiary hospitals in Tripoli and Benghazi, Libya
Patients and methods: this cross sectional and descriptive study was conducted on 162 patients with chronic hepatitis B positive for more than six months] who were followed up at hepatitis clinics of the three main tertiary hospitals in Tripoli city [88 patients from Tripoli Medical Centre and Tripoli Central Hospital] and Benghazi city [74 patients from Aljomhoria Hospital] during the period from January 2010 to June 2012. HBV and HDV markers were detected by enzyme linked fluorescent assay [ELFA] or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and HBV-DNA was quantified by real-time PCR techniques
Results: the mean age of patients was 36, 92 +/- 15,35. One hundred and three [63.6%] of them were males and 59 [36, 4%] were females. Four patients [2, 5%] were tested positive for anti-HD antibodies; all of them have had clinical and/or histological diagnosis of cirrhosis. In multivariable regression analysis, age [p = .04], elevation of serum ALT [p = .03], elevation of serum AST [p = .04], and presence of cirrhosis [p = .003] were significantly related to HDV seropositivity
Conclusion: although the study demonstrated that Libya has low to moderate prevalence of HDV [2,5%], it is important for policy makers and health care providers to continue the preventive measures for HDV spread, and HBV prevention program including utilization of HBV vaccine. Furthermore, it is imperative to screen chronic HBV patients for HDV for close observation for early diagnosis of subsequent development of liver cirrhosis. Moreover, further epidemiologic and genetic studies are needed to explore the trend for HDV infection in Libya
ABSTRACT
The prevalence of hepatitis B virus [HBV] among healthcare workers [HCWs] in hospitals in developing countries is high. However, the vaccination status of these workers and its relationship with occupational factors are not well documented. The aim of this study was to evaluate the susceptibility of HCWs to HBV infection in the representative Tripoli Central Hospital in Libya and prepare a practical guideline to protect HCWs from occupational exposure. In this cross-sectional study, a questionnaire survey was administered to 2705 healthcare workers of a university hospital in Tripoli. The questionnaire included vaccination status. Compliance with preventive practices against HBV infection was also assessed. The overall vaccination coverage [anti-HBs] was 78.1%. Furthermore, 82.6% of HCWs had received at least one dose of vaccine, but only 72% reported that they were fully vaccinated. The prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen was 1.1%. The mean prevalence of hepatitis B core antibody [anti-HBc] was 17.3%. HCWs at hospitals are frequently exposed to blood-borne infections. Vaccines should be more readily available for Libyan HCWs, and current vaccination programs should be enforced
Subject(s)
Humans , Female , Male , Health Personnel , Occupational Exposure , Vaccination , Hepatitis B Vaccines , Hospitals , Tertiary Care CentersABSTRACT
To evaluate the in-vitro activities of linezolid, vancomycin, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, amikacin, trimethoprim and fusidic acid, against methicillin resistant isolates. Three hundred and twenty two non-duplicate archived Staphylococcal isolates recovered from routine cultures performed in the microbiology laboratory from wounds, and abscesses swabs, urine, blood, pus, derived from both in- and out patients were tested. A total of 274 S. aureus and 76 CNS clinical isolates were included in the study, 46.7% were MRSA and 21% methicillin resistant CNS [MRCNS]. None of the strains was found to be resistant to linezolid and vancomycin. The resistance rates of MRSA isolates to antibiotics were as follows: 86% to gentamicin, 84.3% to fusidic acid, 80% to trimethoprim, 78.2% to ciprofloxacin and 76.5% to amikacin. Similar trend were also obtained for MRCNS isolates. The majority [70%] of MRSA isolates were resistant to all used classes of antibiotics in the study, while only 4.3% were sensitive to such antimicrobial agents. Due to the high prevalence of multi-drug resistant MRSA, this study has provided valuable baseline information to clinicians regarding the benefit of linezolid, suggesting that it can be used as an alternative drug in such severe life threatening infections caused by MRSA, especially if the side effect of vancomycin was observed