Risk factors and prevalence of hepatitis virus B and C serum markers among nurses at a tertiary-care hospital in Mexico City, Mexico: a descriptive study.

Background & aim: Alcohol consumption and viral infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are the first causes of chronic hepatopathy in Mexico. Medical personnel are at high risk of developing HBV and HCV infection because both viruses are transmitted parenteraly. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HCV and HBV infection as well as risk factors in nurses working at Medica Sur Clinic and Foundation. Methods: The complete nurse staff personal from our hospital was included; a questionnaire of risk factors for HCV and HBV infection was assessed. HBV and HCV infection (anti-HCV anti-HBc, and HBsAg) was determined to all of them. In anti-HCV positive persons HCV genotype and viral load was assessed. Results: Three hundred seventy six nurses where studied, Anti-HBc was positive in 1.6% of all participants, none were positive for HBsAg. 0.8% of all studied population was positive for antiHCV. Major risk factors for HBV infection where tattooing and having more than 4 sexual partners previously, and for HCV infection transfusions before 1992 and age. Only one person was anti-HCV positive with 1 Research Liver Unit, Biomedical Research Department, Medica Sur Clinic & Foundation, Mexico City, Mexico. 2 Faculty of Medicine. National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico. List of abbreviations: HBV, hepatitis B virus; HCV, hepatitis C virus; HCC, hepatocellular carcinoma; RNA, ribonucleic acid; PCR, polymerase chain reaction; HBsAg, hepatitis B surface antigen; HBeAg, hepatitis B e antigen; ALT, alanine