Hepatitis A vaccination in healthcare personnel.

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIMS:

Despite effective vaccine available, hepatitis A remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide including acute liver failure, transplantation and death. Vaccination rates for hepatitis A in the general population are low. Rates of hepatitis A vaccination in healthcare personnel (HCP) are unknown. We studied vaccination rate to hepatitis A in a cohort of HCP at a large US academic center.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

An anonymous survey was circulated between 499 HCP at-risk of hepatitis A exposure at our Institution. Results were corrected for non-response rate and compared with the general US population using the 2007 CDC-National Immunization Survey. Rate of hepatitis A vaccination was compared with Institutional rate of vaccination for the Influenza 2009-2010 season.

RESULTS:

Rate of vaccination for hepatitis A in HCP was 28.8% (response rate 41.4%; 207/499), with 58.9% having completed the full series and 24.7% being tested for post-vaccination immunity. Acceptance rate among non-vaccinated subjects was 70.7%. HCP hepatitis A vaccination rate was statistically greater than the national general population (28.8 vs. 12.1%, p ≤ 0.031). A statistically significant greater vaccination rate was found among US born responders vs. foreign-born HCP (34.3 vs. 19.3%, p = 0.0324). Vaccination for hepatitis A was statistically inferior to that of Influenza (28.8 vs. 90%; P = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS:

HCP have statistically higher vaccination rate for hepatitis A than the general population, but overall protection remains suboptimal with vaccination rate below those for mandatory vaccines. Further studies to determine whether hepatitis A vaccine is cost-effective in HCP are recommended.

• Authors: Praveen Guturu, Luca Cicalese, Andrea Duchini
• Journal: Annals of hepatology (Ann Hepatol) 2012 May-Jun Vol. 11 Issue 3 Pg. 326-9 ISSN: 1665-2681 [Print] Mexico
• PMID: 22481450 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Hepatitis A Vaccines

Topics

• Cohort Studies
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Health Personnel
• Health Surveys
• Hepatitis A (epidemiology, immunology, prevention & control)
• Hepatitis A Vaccines (therapeutic use)
• Hepatitis A virus (immunology)
• Humans
• Incidence
• Retrospective Studies
• Risk Factors
• Surveys and Questionnaires
• United States (epidemiology)