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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
immunology and microbiology
Hepatitis b and c: Neglected diseases among health care workers in cameroon
Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Volume 107, No. 3, Year 2013
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Description
Healthcare workers (HCW) are at risk of acquiring blood-borne viral infections, particularly hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV), and HIV, especially in high endemic regions such as sub-Saharan Africa. Methods: Sera from 237 hospital workers in Southwest Cameroon were tested for anti-hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), anti-hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs), anti-HCV and (on a voluntary basis) for anti-HIV. Information on pre-study testing for HBV, HCV and HIV and pre-study HBV vaccination status was collected from these individuals. Results: The pre-study testing rate among participating hospital stafffor HBV was 23.6% (56/237), for HCV 16% (38/237), and for HIV 91.6% (217/237). The pre-study HBV vaccination rate was 12.3% (29/237). Analysis of anti-HBc revealed that 73.4% (174/237) of the hospital staffhad been infected by HBV. Active HBV infection (HBsAg positivity) was detected in 15 participants. Anti-HCV was found in four of 237 participants, HIV antibodies were detected in four of 200 participants tested. Conclusion: HBV and HCV are neglected diseases among HCW in sub-Saharan Africa. The vaccination rate against HBV was very low at 12.3%, and therefore anti-HBc testing should be mandatory to identify HCW requiring HBV vaccination. Testing for HBV and routine HBV vaccination for HBV-negative HCW should be strongly enforced in Cameroon. © Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 2013. All rights reserved.
Authors & Co-Authors
Fritzsche, Carlos
Germany, Rostock
Universität Rostock
Becker, F.
Germany, Rostock
Universität Rostock
Hemmer, Christoph Josef
Germany, Rostock
Universität Rostock
Riebold, Diana
Germany, Rostock
Universität Rostock
Klammt, Sebastian
Germany, Rostock
Universität Rostock
Hufert, Frank T.
Germany, Gottingen
Universitätsmedizin Göttingen
Akam, Wilfred
Cameroon, Region
Regional Hospital Limbe
Kinge, Thompson N.
Cameroon, Region
Regional Hospital Limbe
Reisinger, Emil Christian
Germany, Rostock
Universität Rostock
Statistics
Citations: 27
Authors: 9
Affiliations: 3
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1093/trstmh/trs087
ISSN:
00359203
e-ISSN:
18783503
Research Areas
Health System And Policy
Infectious Diseases
Study Locations
Cameroon