Seroprevalence of viral hepatitis A, B and C in health care personnel in the Clermont-Ferrand University Hospital

Objectives: Evaluate risk of hepatitis A, B and C infection and anti HBV vaccination policy in hospital personnel. Methodes: A sample of 440 health care workers (7.5% of the personnel at the Clermont-Ferrand University Hospital) representing 74.5% people directly involved in health care and 25.5% other workers were selected at random and stratified by work classification and age, A questionnaire was used to establish personal data on viral hepatitis status and blood samples were drawn for serological tests. Results: Seroprevalence for hepatitis A was 52% no significant difference between health care and workers, For hepatitis B, 88.3% of the population had been vaccinated and anti-HBs titre was greater than or equal to 10 mIU/ml for 91.6% and greater than or equal to 50 mIU/ml for 86.1%, Seroprevalence for anti-HBc was 7% and none of the subjects were positive for HBs antigen, Anti-hepatitic C antibodies were found in 2 health care workers (0.7%). Conclusion: These findings emphasize the need to persue further preventive actions against hepatitis A, B and C and the requirement for continued efforts in elementary hygiene.