Hepatitis B Antigen and Antibody among Staff Members of an Israeli Hospital and a Kibbutz Population

E. Sikuler, A. Dvilansky, A. Skibin, M. R. Quastel

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    7 Scopus citations

    Abstract

    Abstract. Until recently, hepatitis type B was thought to be transmitted parenterally. However, much evidence has appeared regarding non‐parenteral transmission. Hospital personnel are exposed both ways to this disease. We compared the incidence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody (anti‐HBs) among 388 workers at a major medical center in Israel with 203 kibbutz residents, using radioimmunoassay procedures. Of the hospital personnel, 1.8% were found to carry the antigen and 23.9% the antibody. In contrast, 0.5% of kibbutz personnel were antigen‐positive and 11.8% carried the antibody. The highest incidence of antibody was found among people born in middle‐eastern countries outside of Israel. These results show a significant increase in the exposure of hospital personnel to hepatitis B virus. A marked increase in the frequency of sera positive for anti‐HBs occurred after the first year of hospital work.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)25-31
    Number of pages7
    JournalVox Sanguinis
    Volume34
    Issue number1
    DOIs
    StatePublished - 1 Jan 1978

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Hematology

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