Short communication, Note
Screening of Health Care Workers for Hepatitis B Virus and Hepatitis C Virus: Criteria for Fitness for Work
Federica Prati
Vittorio Lodi
Vicenzo D'elia
Davide Truffelli
Hrvoje Lalić
Giovanni Battista Raffi
Abstract
The aim of this study was to propose a protocol for assessment of markers of infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) in exposed health care professionals and to define criteria for evaluation of fitness for the job of the infected personnel. The study comprised 800 persons involved in operative procedures, including 414 surgeons, 275 nurses, and 111 anaesthetists. A graduated protocol was created for monitoring markers of HBV and HCV infection. A well-defined combination of markers of antigenantibody systems enabled identification of four groups of persons with HBV infection differing in fitness for work: 1) HBsAg-positive, HBeAgpositive, HBV DNA-positive; 2) HBsAg-positive, anti-HBe-positive, HBV DNA-positive; 3) HBsAgpositive, anti-HBe-positive, HBV DNA-negative; and 4) anti-HBs-positive, anti-HBc-positive, anti-HBe-positive group. For HCV infection, two groups with different job fitness were identified: 1) anti-HCV-positive, HCV RNA-negative and 2) anti-HCV-positive, HCV RNA-positive. Screening of hospital personnel at risk to HBV and HCV infection requires a well-defined protocol which may help to evaluate the fitness of the infected personnel for a specific job.
Keywords
antigen-antibody system; graduated protocol; markers of infection; occupational exposure
Hrčak ID:
886
URI
Publication date:
29.9.2000.
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