HEPATITIS-B VACCINATION OF MEDICAL AND NURSING-STUDENTS

BACKGROUND: Vaccination against the hepatitis B virus (HBV) of health care staff during their studies would have the advantage of early prev ention when the prevalence of infection is presumably low. METHODS: Th e population to be protected is made up of 1533 medical and nursing st udents. In those who accepted, antiHBc was determined and information was obtained concerning circumstances of exposure to HBV. Vaccination was offered to all the cases of negative antiHBc. Individuals receivin g 3 dosis of the vaccination (20 mug at 0, 1 and 6 months) were seen a t 4-7 months of the last dose to determine the antiHBs titers achieved . RESULTS: One thousand sixty-five students (70 %) accepted inclusion into the prevaccination antiHBc study and 1,029 (3.4 %) were antiHBc n egative. Only older age and previous transfusions and jaundice were si gnificantly associated to greater prevalence of infection by HBV. The adherence to 1, 2 or 3 dosis of the vaccination was 96 %, 94 % and 87 %, respectively. Following the 3 dosis, greater-than-or-equal-to 10 Ul /l of antiHBs were detected in 97 % of the cases studied with the geom etric measurement of the responders being 1580 U/l. The titer had an i nverse relation which was not significant with age. CONCLUSIONs: The h igh participation in the program of antihepatitis B vaccination and th e excellent immune response observed leads to the recommendation of sy stemic vaccination to future health care professionals during their st udy period. Furthermore, the low prevalence of previous HBV infection advises against previous detection of antiHBc with immunization of the whole collective being more effective.