HEPATITIS-B IMMUNIZATION AMONG INVASIVE CARDIOLOGISTS - POOR COMPLIANCE WITH UNITED-KINGDOM GUIDELINES

Objectives-To assess the compliance of invasive cardiologists in the U nited Kingdom with recently accepted national guidelines on the protec tion of health care workers and patients from hepatitis B. To determin e levels of awareness of the infectivity and prevalence of the virus a nd current attitudes towards screening of patients before cardiac cath eterisation and surgery. Design--Anonymous postal survey by questionna ire from the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff. The questionnaire established the respondent's position, knowledge of hepatitis B, curre nt immunological state, and policy towards the routine screening of pa tients for hepatitis B carriage. Participants-All British cardiologist s of consultant or senior registrar grade involved in invasive procedu res. Results-The response rate was 78% (211/271). 20% of respondents h ad never been vaccinated against hepatitis B and about a third of thos e vaccinated had not complied correctly with the recommended immunisat ion regimen. There was Little uniformity in practices for screening pa tients for hepatitis B carriage before invasive procedures, and the le vel of knowledge concerning the prevalence of hepatitis B and the risk s of inoculation was poor. Conclusions-invasive cardiologists are at h igh risk of inoculation with hepatitis B. Nationally agreed guidelines are designed to protect both medical staff and patients against the r isk of infection but currently they are ill heeded.