Risk Factors and Prevalence of Hepatitis Virus B and C Serum Markers Among Nurses at a Tertiary-care Hospital in Mexico City, Mexico: a Descriptive Study

Background & Aim: Alcohol consumption and viral infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are the first causes of chronic hepatopathy in Mexico. Medical personnel are at high risk of developing HBV and HCV infection because both viruses are transmitted parenteraly. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HCV and HBV infection as well as risk factors in nurses working at Medica Sur Clinic and Foundation.

Methods: The complete nurse staff personal from our hospital was included; a questionnaire of risk factors for HCV and HBV infection was assessed. HBV and HCV infection (anti-HCV anti-HBc, and HBsAg) was determined to all of them. In anti-HCV positive persons HCV genotype and viral load was assessed.

Results: Three hundred seventy six nurses where studied, Anti-HBc was positive in 1.6% of all participants, none were positive for HBsAg. 0.8% of all studied population was positive for anti- HCV. Major risk factors for HBV infection where tattooing and having more than 4 sexual partners previously, and for HCV infection transfusions before 1992 and age. Only one person was anti-HCV positive with a viral charge of 5 X 106 copies, genotype 2b.

Conclusions: HCV seropositivity in people with high risk was lower than general population. None was positive for HBV infection.