The seroprevalence of the hepatitis B virus in Italian medical students after 3 decades since the introduction of universal vaccination

• Authors: Pietro Sartorelli , Federico Occhialini , Rosalia Miceli , Antonella Pietronigro , Laura Bianciardi , Chiara Salini , Gabriele Messina

Abstracts

EN

ObjectivesSince 1991 hepatitis B vaccination has been mandatory for all newborns in Italy. The aim of the study was to verify the long-term seroprevalence and the efficacy of hepatitis B vaccination in medical students of the University of Siena.Material and MethodsA cross-sectional observational study was conducted on a population of 850 medical students of the University of Siena (322 males and 528 females, mean age: 23 years) by obtaining from the medical reports the serological analysis data for the total anti-hepatitis B antibodies (HBsAb) and information on hepatitis B vaccination (number of vaccine doses, age at the first vaccination, time since the final vaccination dose, country of origin). Raw odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were initially calculated to evaluate the association between 2 variables. The adjusted ORs were then calculated using a multivariate logistic regression model to study the association between the variables and the possible confounding factors.ResultsOverall, 593 students (69.76%) were immunized against hepatitis B, while 257 (30.24%) had HBsAb antibody titer <10 mIU/ml. From the OR calculation, an inverse correlation emerged between seropositivity to hepatitis B and age, and between seropositivity to hepatitis B and the age at the first vaccination dose. There was also a correlation between seropositivity and the number of vaccination doses received. By performing the multivariate logistic analysis, correlations with these variables were confirmed.ConclusionsA significant part of the studied population was not immunized against hepatitis B virus, despite the fact that vaccination had been carried out as prescribed by law. The results of the study reaffirm the importance of health surveillance in subjects at biological risk such as medical students.

Keywords

EN

hepatitis B; vaccination; medical students; immunization; hepatitis B antibodies; seroepidemiological studies

• Publisher: Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. dra Jerzego Nofera w Łodzi
• Journal: International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health
• Year: 2021
• Volume: 35
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 75-80

Dates

published

2022

Contributors

author

Pietro Sartorelli

• University of Siena, Siena, Italy (Department of Medical Biotechnology, Unit of Occupational Health Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese)

author

Federico Occhialini

• University of Siena, Siena, Italy (Department of Medical Biotechnology)

author

Rosalia Miceli

• University of Siena, Siena, Italy (Postgraduate School of Occupational Medicine)

author

Antonella Pietronigro

• University of Siena, Siena, Italy (Postgraduate School of Occupational Medicine)

author

Laura Bianciardi

• University of Siena, Siena, Italy (Department of Medical Biotechnology)

author

Chiara Salini

• University of Siena, Siena, Italy (Postgraduate School of Public Health)

author

Gabriele Messina

• University of Siena, Siena, Italy (Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine)

Identifiers

DOI

10.13075/ijomeh.1896.01835

Biblioteka Nauki

2085658