RESUMO
The results of a prospective study of hepatitis B infections among the patients of a Chest Disease Hospital are reported. A thousand and sixteen patients admitted during the twelve months study period were screened for the Hepatitis B(Surface)-Antigen(HBsAg) on admission and during the stay and were kept under epidemiological surveillance for six months following the discharge. The HBsAg prevalence was 3.54% on admission and the cumulative infection rate during the follow up period was 12.64 per 100 patients. The HBsAg prevalence on admission was significantly higher in males than in females, the susceptibility to infection found in the course of the study was in both sexes similar. The majority of infections was inapparent with the ratio of 8.6:1 of inapparent to clinically manifested forms. The incidence of viral hepatitis among the personnel was comparable to the incidence among the personnel of other hospital departments.
