Level of specific immunoglobulin to hepatitis B virus core antigen in groups of health care workers with different risk of parenteral viral hepatitis B infection

Abstract

Objective. To determine the incidence of anti-HBc in groups of health care workers with different risk of occupational parenteral viral hepatitis B (VHB) infection previously vaccinated against hepatitis B.

Materials and methods. The total sample of 1643 people was divided into cohorts of people with high risk of occupational infection, 976 people (58.9%), and with low risk of parenteral infection, 676 people (41.1%). The immunofluorescence assay was used for anti-HBs and anti-HBc.

Results. The share of anti-HBc positive and anti-HBc negative individuals is almost the same in both groups. Statistical calculations show that the relationship between the presence and absence of anti-HBc and the levels of humoral immunity in both groups is statistically significant (p < 0.001). Anti-HBc in the serum of the vaccinated people is detected 2.7 times less incident compared to the unvaccinated.

Conclusion. No significant difference in the detection of anti-HBc in the groups of health workers at high and low risk of parenteral infection was revealed. A statistically significant correlation was found between the level of postvaccinal immunity in vaccinated persons and the presence of anti-HBc. Immunization against VHB prevents not only its acute form, but also sterile, chronic, or latent ones.