Serological survey and vaccination against viral hepatitis A in health care providers at the Clinic of Infectious Diseases in Ostrava

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The health care providers of the Clinic of Infectious Diseases in Ostrava were screened for immunity to hepatitis A virus (HAV) in an attempt to provide vaccination against hepatitis A to non-immune persons. STUDY SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A cohort of 101 health care providers of the Clinic of Infectious Diseases, i.e. 10 physicians, 56 nurses and 35 nursing auxiliaries, were screened. Total anti-HAV antibodies were determined by ELISA and the subjects not reaching the protective level of anti-HAV antibodies were considered as non-immune. Vaccination against hepatitis A was recommended to all of the non-immune persons. RESULTS: Immunity to HAV was detected in 41 (41%) of 101 screened subjects. Immunity was increasing with age, being found in 8% of subjects under 40 years of age and 59 % of older subjects, in 2 (20%) physicians, 23 (41%) nurses and 16 and nursing auxiliaries. Vaccination of 58 non-immune subjects was conducted without complications. CONCLUSION: The prevalence rates of total anti-HAV antibodies in health care providers of the Clinic of Infectious Diseases showed a continuing upward trend with age and were practically the same as in the community.