Document Type : Brief Report
Authors
- Yasaman Yaghobi 1
- Iraj Nikokar 2
- Hadi Sedigh Ebrahim-Saraie 3
- Mojtaba Frahbakhsh 2
- Mojtaba Safavi 1
- Robabeh Ansar 1
- Bahareh Fazli 1
1 Eastern Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, IR Iran
2 Laboratory of Microbiology and Immunology of Infectious Diseases, Para Medicine Faculty, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, IR Iran
3 Department of Bacteriology and Virology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran
Abstract
Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is considered as a serious public health concern. The health care workers and medical students are at a higher risk of HBV infection than the general population through occupational exposure. Vaccination against HBV is considered an effective means of infection prevention.
Objectives: The aim of the present study was to determine anti-HBs titers among the medical students of Guilan University of Medical Sciences within the national HBV vaccination schedule.
Patients and Methods: This cross-sectional study comprised 209 medical students born between the years 1989 - 92 within a national vaccination gap of HBV and received HBV vaccine before age 18 years. The levels of anti-HBsAg ≥ 10 mIU/mL detected by ELISA were considered as protective against HBV.
Results: Of 209 students participated in this study, 11 (5.3%) showed no response to HBV vaccination. The protective titers of 10 - 1000 mIU/mL, and greater than 1000 mIU/mL of anti-HBs were found in 126 (60.2%) and 72 (34.5%) of students, respectively.
Conclusions: The periodic monitoring of anti-HBs titers in medical students is important because of their awareness about the risk factors associated with HBV infection.
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