SEROLOGICAL MARKERS OF HEPATITIS-A, HEPATITIS-B AND HEPATITIS-C IN FIRST-YEAR STUDENT NURSES

OBJECTIVE: to know the prevalence of serological markers of hepatitis A, B and C virus in first year student nurses. SETTING: a transversal study of prevalence. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: 81 first year student nurse s, mean age 20.6 years (18-37, S.D. 3.8), with demographic, epidemiolo gic and clinical variables, performing liver enzymes, anti-HAV IgG, an ti-HBcore and anti-HCV. RESULTS: the anti-HAV IgG was positive in 9 st udents (11.1%), with a prevalence of 6.7% between 17 and 19 years (C.I .95% 1.7 to 19.3%), 8.7% between 20 and 22 years (C.I.95% 1.5 to 29.5% ), 20% between 23 and 25 years (C.I.95% 10.5 to 70.1%), and 37.5% (C.I .95% 10.2 to 74.1) in those over 25 years (p < 0.001). No other signif icative variables existed according to age-group. Regarding hepatitis B virus, of the 65 not previously vaccinated, only 1 (1.5%, C.I.95% 0. 08 to 9.4%) was inmunized, and there were no cases of HBsAg positive. The anti-VHC was positive in one case (1.2%, C.I.95% 0.06 to 7.6%), RI BA indeterminate and with normal ALT. Only one student (1.2%) showed i ncreased transaminase values, attributed to liver steatosis. None of t he students had suffered any episode of acute clinic hepatitis. CONCLU SIONS: the anti-HAV IgG prevalence in first year student nurses in our area is very low, and it is not necessary to carry out prevacunal scr eening. The low prevalence of anti-Hbcore also rejects a similar scree ning with respect to HBV. There were no HBsAg or anti-HCV positive cas es, but it should not be the cause of forgetting to take the universal precautions or giving a false sensation of security.