Evaluation of vaccine induced immunity to hepatitis B virus among health care workers in a university hospital in Iran

ABSTRACT

To evaluate the level of anti-HBs antibody among health care workers [HCWs] in a university hospital in Shahre-Kord, Iran, during 2008-2009 Prospective study Charmahal-Baktiari province, Iran Two hundred and fifty seven health care workers [HCWs] in a university hospital Intervention Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] Main Outcome Measure: Seroprevalence of anti-HBsAg [IgG] 85.6% of the individuals were female. Regardless of gender, 21 of the 257 [8.2%] HCWs lacked immunity, 91 of 257 [35.4%] were partially immune, and 145 [56.4%] exhibited immunity against the virus. The post-vaccination period was five years, in 221 [86%] and more than five years in 36 of the 257 individuals studied [14%]. There were more male non-responders [15%] than female [8%]. There was a significant relationship between post-vaccination period and anti-HBsAg antibody titer [p < 0.05]. Based on our results, the post-vaccination period of immunity to this virus in HCW workers is five years