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Revista Española de Salud Pública
On-line version ISSN 2173-9110Print version ISSN 1135-5727
Abstract
TOLOSA MARTINEZ, Natividad; TENIAS BURILLO, José María; PEREZ BERMUDEZ, Brígido and SANCHIS ALVAREZ, Juan Bautista. Factors related to an inadequate response to hepatitis B vaccination in health care personnel. Rev. Esp. Salud Publica [online]. 1998, vol.72, n.6, pp.509-515. ISSN 2173-9110.
BACKGROUND: The recombinant hepatitis B vaccine provides immunity in approximately 95% of all cases, but there is a certain percentage which responds insufficiently. The purpose of this work consists of assessing the factors which are linked to an inadequate immune response. METHODS: This is an observational, analytical study in which a retrospective follow-up is made of a group of subjects vaccinated to prevent against hepatitis B (HBV). The variables of interest of the health care personnel meeting the requirements to be included in this study in Health Care District No. 9 of the Autonomous Region of Valencia (No. 827) were gathered. Following vaccination, the titration of surface antibodies (antiHBs) was determined for checking the response, levels of over 10m UI/ml being considered to provide protection. RESULTS: An adequate serum changeover was achieved in 94.4% of those vaccinated. The low-degree or zero response to the vaccine was significantly linked independently to variables such as male gender, age, the body mass index (BMI) and the habit of smoking. Drinking alcohol and the levels of GPT, although they did not react significantly with the response to the vaccine, were possibly misleading factors. CONCLUSION: The immunogenicity of this vaccine is satisfactory. It is important to quantify the levels of antiHBs, especially when factors predicting a poor response are involved. Therefore, it is possible to identify those which require a booster shot and those showing no response, hence avoiding situations involving a false sense of being protected against HBV.
Keywords : Hepatitis B; Vaccination; Health Care Personnel; Immunogenicity; Predicting Factors.
