Evaluating the Status of Hepatitis B Vaccination in Healthcare Workers at a Central Laboratory in a Tertiary Care Hospital and Research Centre.

ABSTRACT

Introduction Hepatitis B virus is a significant occupational hazard for healthcare workers worldwide. Long-term protection against hepatitis B infection is conferred by the vaccine and the protective immune response is indicated by anti-hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) titre. It is crucial to monitor anti-HBsAg titres as their levels decrease over time. The study aims to evaluate the status of hepatitis B vaccination among personnel working in the Central Laboratory of Shri B.M. Patil Medical College Hospital and Research Centre. The focus is on understanding the immunization practices and protection levels against HBV within this high-risk group. Materials and methods A cross-sectional analysis was conducted, including collecting demographic data, determining HBsAg status, evaluating anti-HBsAg titre value, and getting vaccination details of the laboratory personnel. The study participants included doctors, lab technicians, and attendants who were assessed for both vaccination coverage and immunity levels. After obtaining their written consent, 4 ml of blood was collected in sterile blood collection tubes. All the samples were tested for HBsAg. The negative samples were tested for anti-hepatitis B surface antigen antibody (HBsAg-Ab (IgG)) titre. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method was used to evaluate the obtained samples for HBsAg and anti-HBsAg titre. Results A total of 99 healthcare workers were included in the study. Most of the laboratory healthcare workers were in the age range of 20-30 years. In 84.8% of the subjects, protective antibody levels (>10 IU/ml) were found. The highest protection was seen among doctors (94.5%), followed by lab technicians (82.9%) and attendants (66.6%). However, 15.2% exhibited inadequate immunity, predominantly among the attendants (33.3%). The highest vaccination coverage was among doctors (91.8%), followed by lab technicians (78.7%) and attendants (53.3%). Most doctors had completed the full vaccination schedule (70.2%) or received a booster dose (24.3%) compared to lab technicians (57.4%) and attendants (46.6%). Conclusion The study highlights effective preventive measures against HBV among laboratory healthcare workers, as indicated by the absence of active infections. But it also emphasizes the necessity of focused initiatives to raise vaccination rates, particularly among attendants, in order to guarantee complete protection against HBV for all levels of laboratory workers.