A cross-sectional study of post-vaccination anti-HBs titer and knowledge of hepatitis B infection amongst medical students in a metropolitan city

Abstract

INTRODUCTIONHepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one of the major infectious diseases without seasonal distribution. 1 Medical students are at risk of acquiring HBV infection due to contact with patients' blood or other body fluids in healthcare or laboratory settings. 2 In the state of Maharashtra, 85% of medical students are admitted to the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) course from various parts of Maharashtra while 15% are admitted through All-India quota. Hepatitis B vaccine is administered under the routine child immunization programme of many Indian states but vaccination coverage is not uniform nationwide. As a consequence, some medical students are either not vaccinated or incompletely vaccinated against hepatitis B infection. ABSTRACTBackground: Medical students are at risk of acquiring hepatitis B virus infection due to occupational contact with patients' blood or other body fluids. This study was conducted to determine knowledge of hepatitis B virus infection and anti-HBS antibody titer amongst medical students. Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted on medical students who satisfied the intake criteria and gave written informed consent to participate in the study. After Institutional Ethics Committee clearance, written informed consent was obtained and a structured, pre-validated questionnaire (pre-test) was administered to the participants. After an educational session, an identical questionnaire was administered (post-test). For determining anti-HBs titer (vaccinated participants) and HBsAg (non-vaccinated participants), blood was aseptically collected by cubital venepuncture. HBsAg and anti-HBs antibody levels were determined by immuno-chromatographic assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. Results: 140 healthy, HBsAg-negative medical students (79 males; 61 females) participated in the present study. There was increased median correct response in the post-test with increased minimum and first quartile. 91 (65%) who were vaccinated against Hepatitis B were enrolled for anti-HBs titer estimation. There was no significant gender difference in mean antibody titer. 19 (20.9%) had inadequate levels of anti-HBS antibodies. 50% seroconversion was seen after single dose of hepatitis B vaccine. Conclusions: It is essential to delve into the logistic aspects of evaluating all medical students for hepatitis B infection, procuring and offering free vaccination and assessing anti-HBS titer of vaccinated individuals.

Awareness and Vaccine Coverage of Hepatitis B among Cameroonian Medical Students

“…The Advisory Committee on Immunisation Practices (ACIP) has since 1997 recommended postvaccination serologic testing at least 1 – 2 months following last dose of vaccine to confirm immunity [ 15 ]. Previous studies among medical students have reported postvaccination serologic testing rates of 10 – 65% [ 18 , 21 , 22 ]. It is intriguing that none of our participants had measured antibody titres after vaccination.…”

Assessment of immune response to Hepatitis B vaccine by estimation of anti - HBs antibody titer among immunized health care workers

“…Although the percentage of female protective responders was greater (85.5%) compared to male protective responders (75.9%), the association of anti-HBs status and gender was not statistically significant. Ashmaki et al, Chaudhari et al observed that anti-HBs titer due to gender factor was not statistically significant [22,23]. Also research studies have reported increased percentage of non-protective responders among males as compared to females [24,25].…”

Hepatitis B Vaccinationstatus and Status of Vaccine Non- Responders among Healthcare Workers in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Western Uttar Pradesh

“…9 The percentage of completely vaccinated HCWs ranged from 40% to 49.6% across various Hospitals in India. [10][11][12] Two groups of HCWs were identified, first were those who were either partially vaccinated, non-vaccinated or had unknown status thus emphasizing an urgent need to implement a proactive Hepatitis B immunisation programme to improve protection against this infection and to achieve target of 90% vaccination coverage. 13 The second group included significant numbers of HCWs in booster dose vaccination category showing relatively good vaccination awareness and vaccination coverage in our hospital.…”