SEROPREVALENCE OF HEPATITIS-B AND HEPATITIS-C AMONG RURAL EMERGENCY MEDICAL-CARE PERSONNEL

To identify the prevalence of serologic markers of hepatitis B and hep atitis C among rural prehospital providers, a prospective descriptive study was conducted of a rural county emergency medical services (EMS) system. Participants included 107 prehospital care providers: 102 EMT Bs, 1 paramedic, and 4 law enforcement first responders. Blood sample s taken from prehospital care providers were tested for hepatitis B su rface antigen (HBsAg), antibody to HBsAg (HBsAb), antibody to hepatiti s B core antigen (HBcAb), and antibody to hepatitis C (anti-HC). The 1 07 providers had a total of 635 years of EMS experience (5.93 years pe r subject). Three providers (3%) had received previous blood transfusi ons, 7 (7%) had corked in a metropolitan area, and 6 (6%) had multiple sexual partners prior to the study. No provider reported intravenous drug use or known homosexual or bisexual contact. Only one sample test ed positive for hepatitis C antibody (anti-HC) and hepatitis surface a ntibody (HBsAb). Rural prehospital care personnel have a low prevalenc e (0.9%) of exposure to hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Despite this fact , continued vigilance should be maintained in preventing transmission of bloodborne illnesses. Copyright (C) 1997 by W.B. Saunders Company.