Prevalence of HCV Antibodies and HBV Surface Antigen among Workers of Zagazig Faculty of Medicine and its Hospitals

Abstract

Background and study aim:: Viral hepatitis is a serious global public health problem affecting billions of people globally, and both hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are rapidly spreading in the developing countries including Egypt due to the lack of health education, poverty, and and illiteracy. So this study was conducted to determine the prevalence of HCV antibodies and HBsAg and possible risk factors of transmission of these infections among workers of Zagazig Faculty of medicine and its hospitals. Patients and methods:  This study was conducted on two hundred workers (non medicals) All were randomly selected from all clinical and academic Departments of Zagazig Faculty of Medicine and its Hospitals. Their age was above 18 years and up to 60 years. Possible associated factors with infections by the viruses were collected from patient using questionnaire Rapid diagnostic test kits were used to screen for Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-Hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies. Results :Out of two hundred 39 (19.5%)of workers had Hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies and 7 (3.5%) of workers had Hepatitis B surface antigen and one worker 1 ((0.5%). had dual hepatitis B and C virus coinfection . The prevalence of chronic HCV and HBV is higher among males (20.2% and 4% respectively ) than females (17.3% and 1.92% ) and both HBsAg and HCV Abs was ( 0.7)% in males and negative in females. The prevelance of HCV Abs was high among workers with past history of barbering (69.23%) while prevalence of HBV was high in workers with a history of blood transfusion (28.57%).Multivariate regression was used to estimate independent effects of risk factors on seropositivity of both virsus . A highly significant association was found between workers with history barbering (OR 4.58 ) and those with seroposiotivity of HCV abs. While there was no significant association between workers with a history of dental procedure(OR 1.44), operation (OR 1.2) and blood transfusion(OR 1.5) and those with acquired seropositivity of HCVAbs. And a highly significant association was found between workers with history of blood transfusion and those with acquired seropositivity of HBV ( OR 8.18), while there was no significant association between workers with a history of dental procedure(OR 0.2), barbering(OR 0.59) and operation (OR 0.63) and those with acquired seropositivity of HBs. Conclusion : We can conclude that he prevalence of HBV and HCV infections among workers of Zagazig Faculty of Medicine and its hospitals in this study is high . Barbering has 4 times risk of HCV infection and blood transfusion has 8 times HBV infection. and working in operation units was associated with increase the risk of HBV and HCV infections, but working in other units like surgical and non surgical , administration and ICU was associated with increase HCV transmission. For prevention the spread of HBV and HCV, people must be educated about these infections and modes of transmission , better infection control practices in hospitals, healthcare and barbering facilities.