Regular ArticleViral hepatitis in South African healthcare workers at increased risk of occupational exposure to blood-borne viruses
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Cited by (35)
Global prevalence of hepatitis C in general population: A systematic review and meta-analysis
2022, Travel Medicine and Infectious DiseaseIncreasing hepatitis B vaccination coverage of healthcare workers — global lessons for South Africa
2021, Current Opinion in ImmunologyHigh prevalence of active and occult hepatitis B virus infections in healthcare workers from two provinces of South Africa
2016, VaccineCitation Excerpt :Immunisation of HCWs against HBV is crucial for infection control, thus the South African National Department of Health (SANDoH) recommends all HCWs be vaccinated against HBV before being exposed to patients. However, limited studies investigating antibodies against HBsAg (anti-HBs) among South African HCWs have found sub-optimal levels of protection against HBV, with only 30.6–52.4% having protective levels of anti-HBs (i.e. anti-HBs ⩾ 10mIU/ml) [5,6]. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of HBV markers of susceptibility, protection, exposure and infection in HCWs working in two provinces of South Africa, stratified by vaccination status.
Need for a comprehensive, consistently applied national hepatitis B vaccination policy for healthcare workers in higher educational institutions: A case study from South Africa
2013, Journal of Hospital InfectionCitation Excerpt :As the HB vaccine was only introduced into the Expanded Program on Immunization of South Africa in 1995, being administered to babies at six, 10 and 14 weeks of age,12 it is likely that none of the student HCWs enrolled at higher educational institutions (HEIs) in South Africa were ever vaccinated against HBV as children. Although the South African Department of Health strongly recommends HB vaccination for HCWs, there is a need for a consistent national policy, as previous studies have found that hospital policies are inconsistent10 and HB vaccination coverage is suboptimal.10,13 An earlier study reported that only 21.2% of HCWs at high risk of HBV exposure remembered ever being vaccinated,10 while a recent study found that 67.9% had received at least one dose of HB vaccine, but only 19.9% were fully vaccinated.13
An update after 16 years of hepatitis B vaccination in South Africa
2012, VaccineCitation Excerpt :Unfortunately HBV DNA testing is not routinely conducted on such cases. Although the SADoH recommends HB vaccination for HCWs, it has not been made mandatory [20,29,68]. An earlier study from Gauteng, South Africa found that the majority of HCWs at high risk for HBV are not vaccinated, with only 21.2% remembering ever being vaccinated [68].
Hepatitis B vaccination coverage in healthcare workers in Gauteng Province, South Africa
2011, VaccineCitation Excerpt :Thus South African HCWs are at high risk for occupational exposure to HBV, yet in 2002 a study conducted in Johannesburg Hospital in Gauteng Province found that only 30.6% were protected (either from natural infection or vaccination), and only 21.2% could recall being vaccinated [11]. Although the SA National Department of Health (SANDoH) recommends vaccinating all HCWs against HBV, this is not mandatory and there is no national policy in place for HB vaccination of HCWs [11]. In May 2010, the 63rd World Health Assembly adopted a resolution prioritising the global prevention and control of viral hepatitis, and recommended increasing the HB vaccination coverage of HCWs [12].
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Author for correspondence: Dr E. Vardas, Perinatal HIV Research Unit, HIV/AIDS Vaccine Division, PO Bertsham 2013, Johannesburg, South Africa. Fax: 27(11) 9383973; E-mail:[email protected]