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Evaluation of the Epidemiology of Hepatitis B Virus Cross-Infection in a Maternity Hospital

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 June 2016

Z. Puvacic ,
S. Simic ,
M. Karlovac ,
V. Visnjevac ,
M. Simic  and
B. Nikulin
Z. Puvacic*
Affiliation:
University Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the University of Sarajevo, Yugoslavia
S. Simic
Affiliation:
University Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the University of Sarajevo, Yugoslavia
M. Karlovac
Affiliation:
University Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the University of Sarajevo, Yugoslavia
V. Visnjevac
Affiliation:
University Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the University of Sarajevo, Yugoslavia
M. Simic
Affiliation:
University Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the University of Sarajevo, Yugoslavia
B. Nikulin
Affiliation:
University Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the University of Sarajevo, Yugoslavia
*
University Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 71, 000 Sarajevo, Hasana Brkica 8, Yugoslavia
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Abstract

Objective:

To determine the hepatitis B infection risk in a university hospital of obstetrics and gynecology,

Setting:

The University Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Sarajevo, Yugoslavia.

Design:

Staff members were divided into three groups: 73 doctors, 184 medical technicians working in delivery rooms, and 55 medical technicians working with postnatal care. The patients were 63 women, aged 17 to 39 years (mean = 26.11 years), pregnant for the first time and in the first stage of labor. Participants all had a negative history of hepatitis B and no known contact with the hepatitis B virus.

Results:

The incidence of hepatitis B infections among physicians, technicians, and postnatal care technicians was 1.36%, 3.8%, and 3.6%, respectively. The incidence among patients was 4.76%. The daily infection risk varied between 1% and 17% of all deliveries.

Conclusions:

The risks of transmission of the hepatitis B virus to hospital workers in this setting is indeed high enough to make a case for hepatitis B vaccination in susceptible staff members. Even if vaccination of staff members is carried out, hygienic measures to prevent the transmission of bloodborne infection between patients and from patients to staff are of the utmost importance.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 12 , Issue 11 , November 1991 , pp. 669 - 671
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1991

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