A cost comparison analysis for screening and vaccination of hospital personnel with high- and low-prevalence hepatitis B virus antibodies in California.

Abstract

We compared the cost of antibody screening and the projected cost for hepatitis B vaccination of antibody-negative individuals at hospitals with "high prevalence" and "low prevalence" rates for hepatitis B virus antibodies among their employees. The use of hepatitis B core antibody for screening and subsequent hepatitis B vaccination of antibody-negative personnel was most cost-effective for hospitals considered to have high prevalence for hepatitis B virus antibodies among its staff, although use of hepatitis B surface antibody in this setting only increased costs by 1.4%. In a hospital with low prevalence for hepatitis B virus antibodies among its staff, use of hepatitis B surface antibody and subsequent vaccination of antibody-negative individuals was the most cost-effective approach, while use of hepatitis B core antibody for the above purposes would have increased costs by 3.4%. The use of both hepatitis B surface antibody and core antibody in either setting followed by immunization was least economical, as costs were increased by 13% and 13.5% respectively. We concluded that hepatitis B core antibody should be used for screening in hospitals with high prevalence for hepatitis B virus antibodies among employees while hepatitis B surface antibody be used for screening in hospitals with low prevalence for hepatitis B virus antibodies among employees. A prediction of high and low prevalence for hepatitis B virus antibodies in hospital personnel may be made by knowledge of the distribution in ethnicity of staff.

• Authors: M J Tong, R L Co, R D Marci, P M Michaelson, G Ortega
• Journal: Infection control and hospital epidemiology (Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol) Vol. 9 Issue 2 Pg. 66-71 (Feb 1988) ISSN: 0899-823X [Print] United States
• PMID: 3125243 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Hepatitis B Antibodies
• Hepatitis B Surface Antigens

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• California
• Cost-Benefit Analysis
• Female
• Hepatitis B (economics, ethnology, prevention & control)
• Hepatitis B Antibodies (administration & dosage, analysis)
• Hepatitis B Surface Antigens (isolation & purification)
• Humans
• Male
• Mass Screening (economics)
• Middle Aged
• Personnel, Hospital
• Vaccination (economics)