Prevalence of Hepatitis B and CViruses among Health Care Workers at Governmental Hemodialysis Units

Hussein, Mona; Abd El-Raouf, Samar; EmadEldien, Mona

doi:10.21608/mnj.2021.213182

Prevalence of Hepatitis B and CViruses among Health Care Workers at Governmental Hemodialysis Units

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ BSc, Faculty of Nursing, Cairo University,Infection control practitioner at Dakahllia Medical Affairs

² Community Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Mansoura University, Egypt

10.21608/mnj.2021.213182

Abstract

Egypt has one of the highest prevalence rates of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the
world. Occupational exposure to HBV and HCV is a well-recognized risk for health care
workers (HCWs). The current study conducted to determine the prevalence of HBV and
HCV among HCWs in governmental hemodialysis units in Daqahlyagovernance (DG).
Cross-sectional design was utilized to carry out this study. This study was conducted at 33
governmental hemodialysis units. The total number of the study participants were 1043
HCWs. Structured interviews were run to assess socio-demographic, and occupational
characteristic of HCWs; their health history, and laboratory investigations were carried
outto estimate the prevalence of HBV and HCV among themwhich were firstly for HCV
(hepatitis C virus antibody 3rd generation);secondly for HBV (HBsAg, and hepatitis B
surface antigen).Results indicated that46.8% of HCWs aged 30 to less than 40 years, 45.6%
of HCWs were university education, 94.7% of HCWs received HBV vaccination, finally
prevalence of HCV was 5.4%, while prevalence of HBV was 0.48%. the researcher could
be concluded that: prevalence of both HBV and HCV among heath care workers at
governmental hemodialysis units in Dakahlya governorate is very low; with the highest one
for HCV than HBV. Finally, this study recommended that: Regular screening for HBV and
HCV infection status among HCWs specially in hemodialysis units should be performed.

Keywords