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American Journal of Epidemiology Vol. 122, No. 1: 127-134
Copyright © 1985 by The Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health

research-article

ANTIBODY TO HEPATITIS B SURFACE ANTIGEN AMONG EMPLOYEES IN THE NATIONAL HOSPITAL, OSLO, NORWAY: A PREVALENCE STUDY

BERIT HOVIG1, HALVOR ROLLAG1 and OLLE DAHL2

1Kaptein W. Wilhelmsen og frues Institute of Bacteriology, The National Hospital, University of Oslo Oslo, Norway
2Computer Department, The National Hospital, University of Oslo Oslo, Norway

Reprint requests to Dr. Berit Hovig, Bakteriologisk Institutt, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway

During the last decade, several studies of serologk: markers of hepatitis B virus infections in hospital personnel have demonstrated an Increased prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis B virus (anti-HB) compared with the general population. Norway has a very low incidence rate of hepatitis B as seen on a global scale, and this study was performed to evaluate the infection risk by hospital workers in such environments. The employees, 2,546 (94.7% of the population), in the 800-bed National Hospital in Oslo were tested for antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) in serum. Five per cent (128 persons) were anti-HBs-positive; this was only slightly higher than that in the general Norwegian population. Male employees were more often positive than females (7.0% vs. 4.4%). Staff more than 50 years of age or with 16 or more years of employment in the health services had a rate twice as high as the rest of the employees. Staff in the porter services (mostly men) had a higher rate than others, whereas the rates in the different professional groups showed no statistical differences. Contrary to many other studies, significant differences in prevalence according to frequency of patient contact or blood handling were not found.

antibodies; viral; hepatitis B; occupational diseases; personnel; hospital


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