[Seroepidemiological profile of hepatitis B infection in staff at hemodialysis units of Goiânia-Goiás, Central Brazil]. / Perfil soroepidemiológico da infecção pelo vírus da hepatite B em profissionais das unidades de hemodiálise de Goiânia-Goiás, Brasil Central.

In order to investigate the hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection profile in hemodialysis staff (n = 152) of Goiânia,Goiás, blood samples were tested for detection of HBsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HBc markers. An overall HBV infection prevalence of 24.3% (CI 95%: 17.8 - 32) was found. Multivariate analysis of risk factors showed that length of employment, history of occupational exposure and nonuse of protective equipment were significantly associated with HBV seropositivity. Of 40 staff members who were susceptible to this infection, 20 agreed to participate in the vaccination program. After three vaccine doses (Euvax-B), 18 (90%) seroconverted to anti-HBs with titers >/= 10 IU/L. These data suggest the dialytic environmental as a possible source of occupational transmission of HBV, and emphasize the need to evaluate strategies of control and prevention to be followed in these units.

Hepatitis B virus infection in hemodialysis units: clinical features, epidemiological markers and general control measures.

1. A total of 140 patients and 41 staff members were submitted to periodic testing for HBsAg from January 1979 to December 1984 at the Hemodialysis Unit of the University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo. Twenty-two HBsAg-positive subjects were detected during this period, 15 of whom had acquired the hepatitis B virus (HBV) in the Unit (10 patients and 5 staff-members). 2. HBV prevalence was not uniform throughout the period of study, with an increase of hepatitis B cases occurring after September 1981 and reaching epidemic proportions which lasted until January 1983. 3. Among the preventive measures adopted, epidemiological alert, grouping patients and workers according to susceptibility or immunity to the infection, and setting up a separate area for the dialysis of infected patients appeared to be most important. 4. The use of HBV subtyping as an epidemiological marker permitted us to demonstrate that HBV was introduced into the Unit by chronic carrier patients and spread internally through the probable contamination of equipment and unit environment.