HEPATITIS-B VACCINE UPTAKE AMONG SURGEONS AT A LONDON TEACHING HOSPITAL - HOW WELL ARE WE DOING

In order to determine the perceptions of surgical staff of the risks o f hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and its prevention through vaccina tion, and to assess frequency of 'sharps' injuries and compliance with the Department of Health (DoH) recommendations on vaccination, a ques tionnaire was distributed to surgical staff in the Guy's and St Thomas ' Hospital Trust. Only 52 of the 88 surgeons who responded (59%) had d ocumented vaccine-induced immunity to HBV. Eighty-five (97%) had recei ved at least one dose of vaccine but 15 of these (18%) had failed to c omplete the course. Of the 70 surgeons completing the course, only 56 (80%) had had their immune responses checked and only 44 (63%) had bee n advised about booster doses. In all, 39% admitted sustaining a 'shar ps' injury at least once a month, yet only 17% consistently reported t hese injuries. Those least likely to report were cardiothoracic and ob stetric and gynaecology surgeons; these specialties also sustained the highest frequency of 'sharps' injuries. Ophthalmologists, who sustain ed the lowest rate of injury, were most likely to report. In conclusio n, a significant number of surgeons appeared not to have completed a c ourse of hepatitis B vaccine in the presence of a high frequency of 's harps' injuries. Following the publication of DoH guidelines on protec ting workers from HBV, it must be stressed that failure to comply with recommendations may have medicolegal implications.