A longitudinal study of hepatitis B surface antibody level after the accelerated vaccination protocol applied to health workers in a hospital of Thailand

Abstract

BackgroundHepatitis B infection persists in Thailand, especially among health personnel. The current immunization protocol (3 doses in 6 months) is too slow to protect against infection; thus, an accelerated protocol has been in place as the accelerated protocol at a supra-tertiary hospital since 2014. AimTo measure the anti-HBs level 1, 2, and 5 years post-accelerated vaccination of health personnel who had received the hepatitis vaccine using. MethodsA descriptive study was conducted. Electrochemiluminescence Immunoassay; ECLIA (Roche Diagnostic Cobas 6000, Indianapolis, IN) was used to measure the anti-HB level 1, 2, and 5 years after the third dose in 73, 58, and 20 participants, respectively. FindingsThe starting group number declined over time as workers resigned or transferred away, so the tested number in years 2 and 5 represents the remaining workers that started the study in year 1. The respective geometric mean titer after 1, 2, and 5 years was 1765.8, 164.7, and 107.9 mIU/mL. Fifty-four participants (93.1%) had lower antibody levels in the second year than in the first year. Nine participants (45.0%) had lower antibody levels in the fifth year than in the second year. ConclusionThe anti-HBs level declined from the first to the second and fifth years; however, the anti-HBs level persisted at a protective level. The accelerated protocol benefited health personnel, protecting them from hepatitis B infection.