Hepatitis B: prevalence of serum markers and response to vaccination in laboratory personnel

Abstract

Seventy-five employees of a public health laboratory, in Medellín, Colombia, were screened for hepatitis B serum markers. In 6 of them (8%) at least one marker was present. No significant association was found between the presence of markers and age, sex, occupation or period of time in the employment. Response to B hepatitis vaccination was followed in 50 of the susceptible employees and was found to be adequate in 46 of them (92%). Advanced age and obesity were negatively associated with the development of immunity against B hepatitis virus (p < 0.005 and p < 0.025, respectively).