Anti HBs level in nursing staff of Birjand University of Medical Sciences

Hepatitis B virus is the cause of acute and chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Its prevalence has been reported to be 0.1%-0.5% and 1.6%-6.5% in the United States and Iran respectively. At present, the only sure preventive measure is vaccination but it does not create absolute (100%) immunity. Antibody production is between 79% to 90%, which occurs three days after vaccination. Antibody level decreases as time goes by. The present study was done aiming at determining immunogenicity due to complete hepatitis B vaccination in the nursing staff and its relationship with variables such as age, sex, body mass index, working place, and period of time elapsed after the last dose of vaccine. This descriptive cross sectional study was done in 2004 on 112 nursing staff of Birjand Medical Sciences University hospitals "Vally-e-asr" and "Imam Reza", who had been vaccinated three times and two months to five years elapsed after their last vaccination. First, 4 ml of blood was taken from each subject as their personal information was recorded in a questionnaire. Then, the samples were quantitatively measured by means of Italian Radium Kits using Anti-HBs ELISA. The Study revealed that antibody titer was over 10 mIU/ml in 88.4% of the subjects.11.6% did not have protective antibody but its level was relative and appropriate in 12.5% and 75.9% respectively. There was no significant correlation between HBs-Antibody level and variables such as sex, age, ward, and body mass index in the subjects (P>0.05). Regarding that 11.6% of the subjects did not have protective antibody at all it is suggested that anti-HBs level should be measured in the nursing staff and non-immune- ones must be revaccinated.