Serum Level of Anti-Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Among Students in Guilan, Iran

• Main Authors: Yasaman Yaghobi (Author), Iraj Nikokar (Author), Hadi Sedigh Ebrahim-Saraie (Author), Mojtaba Frahbakhsh (Author), Mojtaba Safavi (Author), Robabeh Ansar (Author), Bahareh Fazli (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, 2015-10-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.

Summary

<strong>Background:</strong> Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is considered as a serious public health concern. The health care workers and medical students are at a higher risk of HBV infection than the general population through occupational exposure. Vaccination against HBV is considered an effective means of infection prevention.<br /> <strong>Objectives:</strong> The aim of the present study was to determine anti-HBs titers among the medical students of Guilan University of Medical Sciences within the national HBV vaccination schedule.<br /> <strong>Patients and Methods:</strong> This cross-sectional study comprised 209 medical students born between the years 1989 - 92 within a national vaccination gap of HBV and received HBV vaccine before age 18 years. The levels of anti-HBsAg ≥ 10 mIU/mL detected by ELISA were considered as protective against HBV.<br /> <strong>Results:</strong> Of 209 students participated in this study, 11 (5.3%) showed no response to HBV vaccination. The protective titers of 10 - 1000 mIU/mL, and greater than 1000 mIU/mL of anti-HBs were found in 126 (60.2%) and 72 (34.5%) of students, respectively.<br /> <strong>Conclusions:</strong> The periodic monitoring of anti-HBs titers in medical students is important because of their awareness about the risk factors associated with HBV infection.

Item Description

2345-5152
2383-1219
10.17795/intjsh28415