Prevalence of Hepatitis B and C Virus in Health Care Personnel in Ibn Sina Hospital, Rabat, Morocco

Abstract

Risk of infection by hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) viruses remains a permanent problem, not only for health care workers but also for patients. It is often a major public health concern in low incomes countries. The aims of this study were to determine seroprevalence of viral hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV), frequency occurrence of blood exposure accidents (BEA) and identify key risk factors for infection among 601 health care workers of Ibn Sina Hospital in Rabat. In this study nineteen health personnel (3.16%) were HBsAg positive and fifteen (2.50%) were anti-HCV antibodies positive. The seropositivity to hepatitis B and C in the surgical department respectively was 4.22% and 3.45%. Nurses were the most affected by hepatitis virus infections. We noticed that HCV came first with a prevalence of 4.44%. The seropositivity reached its acme within the health staff having practiced for more than 20 years, hepatitis C coming first with a prevalence of 4.27%. Globally, 34 health care personnel are positive for HBV or HCV, 32 among them were victims at least once of blood exposure accident (BEA) while practicing. The needlestick represented 81.25% of the BEA type. Prevalence of hepatitis B and C serologic markers in health care workers in our Hospital outnumbered that of the general population. Nurses, surgery department personnel and the professional having worked for a long time were the main factors behind the high risks of infections.