REUSABLE NEEDLES - A MAJOR RISK FACTOR FOR ACUTE VIRUS B-HEPATITIS

We conducted a case control study to find the extent to which acute vi rus B hepatitis was hospital acquired. One hundred and sixty consecuti ve cases of acute virus B hepatitis were compared with age (+/- 3 year s) and sex matched healthy hospital visitors. Exposure to reusable nee dles, blood or blood products, therapeutic and diagnostic procedures, common razors and sexual practices were elicited by means of a questio nnaire. Only exposures in the incubation period (6 weeks to 6 months b efore the onset of symptoms) were included in the analysis. The odds r atio (OR) for injections for reusable needles was 6.3 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 3.8-10.6]. The OR for single injection (OR = 3.9; 95% CI = 2.0-7.3) was less than that for multiple injections (OR = 9.8; 95 % CI = 3.8-26.3), showing a dose response relationship. The proportion of cases of acute virus B hepatitis attributable to hospital related exposures was 67%. Proper aseptic techniques and sterilization practic es can substantially reduce the incidence of acute hepatitis B in the population.