Abstract

Objectives: In present study was aimed to investigate the seroprevalences of hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among healthcare workers in Mardin Obstetric and Children Hospital between 2008 and 2009.
Methods: In sera samples obtained from 180 healthcare workers, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs), HCV antibody (anti-HCV) and HIV antibody (anti-HIV) markers were tested by chemiluminescent immunoassay with Advia Centaur (Siemens) autoanalyser.
Results: We found HBsAg positive and anti-HBs negative in 2 healthcare workers (1.1%); HBsAg negative and anti-HBs positive in 123 healthcare workers (68.3%); HBsAg negative and anti-HBs negative in 55 healthcare workers (30.6%); 2 healthcare workers (1.1%) anti-HCV antibody positive in 115 (63.3%) girls and 65 (36.7%) boys on the way total 180 healthcare workers. None of these patients found HIV antibody. It was also seen that 107 (59.4%) healthcare workers had anti-HBs positivity due to vaccination and 16 (8.9%) healthcare workers without vaccination. As the HBsAg positivity rate was detected expected low, anti-HBs positivity rate was detected expected high.
Conclusion: As a result, healthcare workers are not at risk more than normal population for hepatitis B and C in our hospital. However, standard infection control programs and immunization should be applied for the protection of both patients and healthcare workers.