Viral Hepatitis

Biography

Biography: Prapan Jutavijittum

Abstract

In 2013, first year medical students and nurse students of Chiang Mai University were tested for the presence of HBsAg and quantitative levels of anti-HBs. The students whom tested negative for HBsAg and anti-HBs negative or titer <10.0 mIU/ml were called back for 3-dose course of hepatitis B (HB) revaccination. Blood samples were taken at 8-10 months after the 1st dose of HB revaccination. Of 408 subjects, 3 (0.7%) were HBsAg-positive and 332 (81.4%) were anti-HBs negative or titer <10 mIU/ml and 76 (18.6%) were anti-HBs titer ≥10 mIU/ml. 2/248 (0.8%) of the students were test positive for anti-HBc. Among persons who born short after adoption of universal neonatal HB immunization in Thailand; at least 0.8% were infected and recovered from HBV infection, 0.7% became HBsAg carriers and at age 17-19 year-old 81.4% were anti-HBs negative or titer <10 mIU/ml. The young adults whom firstly demonstrated anti-HBs negative or titer <10 mIU/ml required at least 2-dose course of HB vaccination to achieve protective levels of anti-HBs. Among the complete 3-dose course of HB revaccinated subjects, only 5/236 (2.1%) have failure to raise anti-HBs ≥10 mIU/ml. Our data support the need of pre-booster check and HB revaccination to whom received neonatal HB vaccination if long time after that they have opportunities for HBV exposure, e.g., joining healthcare disciplines.