OCCUPATIONAL WORK EXPOSURE TO HEPATITIS B VIRUS INFECTION IN THE EMERGENCY COUNTY CLINICAL HOSPITAL, TIRGU MURES, ROMANIA

Introduction: One of the ways of transmission of hepatitis B viral infection is occupational exposure and health care workers (HCWs) are exposed to the risk of acquiring HBV infection. The aim of our study is to assess the occupational exposure to HBV infec- tion, in the HCWs of the Emergency County Clinical Hospital Tirgu Mures, Romania.

Materials and methods: The study was conducted retrospectively on a sample of 524 HCWs, between January 2010 and December 2014, who accidentally came into contact with blood or other body fluids from patients admitted in the Emergency County Clinical Hospital Tirgu Mures, Romania. We persuaded the source patients for the following markers: HBsAg, HCVAb and the HCWs for the following markers: HBsAg, HBsAb, HCVAb, HIVAb. Depending on the tests results and after subjects has given their consent for vaccination and counseling, vaccination was planned at 1 month, 3 months and 6 months.

Results: The annual rate of HBV infections occurring in health care workers ranged from 0.78% to 2.88%. The highest propor- tion of occupational work exposure occurred among physicians (41.6%) and nurses (32.44%). The HCWs working in surgical depart- ments, reported the highest occupational work exposure (44.85%). The adherence to follow-up decreased significantly from the 1 month scheduled serological testing, to the 3 and 6 months testing (p< 0.0001).

Conclusion: Educational programs, implementation and adherence to more safety precautions for HCWs will help to decrease the frequency of occupational work exposure. Administration of hepatitis B vaccine to HCWs early in their careers can prevent HBV infection associated with occupational work exposure.