HBV after Occupational Exposure in Health Care Workers Is Preventable

Abstract Introduction: Chronic hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection has capability of causing various impact on hepatic and extra-hepatic manifestations. It usually remains in inactive carrier in majority of patients but in significant number of patients can cause chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma (H.C.C). There are various routes of transmission for HBV, many of them are well documented like unsafe needle practices including occupational exposure of health care workers and vertical transmission. Aims and Objective: To determine the transmission of HBV in health care workers due to occupational exposure. Materials & Methods: It was prospective study conducted at Department of Medical Gastroenterology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS), Rohtak, over a period of three years from 1st January, 2022 to 31st December, 2024. During this time period 180 health care workers (HCW) who reported in department for occupational exposure with blood of confirmed hepatitis B patients were enrolled in the study. All these health care workers were either partially or not vaccinated against HBV. All of them were given 0.06 ml/Kg of hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) along with first dose of HBV vaccine within 12 hours of exposure, followed by full course of HBV vaccination i.e. 0,1,6 months three doses. Out of these 180 HCW, only 100 got themselves checked for HbsAg and HBV DNA quantitative test after three months of post-exposure for determining transmission of HBV. Hence, data pertaining to these 100 HCW was analysed in final analysis. Results: All these 100 health care workers who received both HBIG and HBV vaccine and got tested for HbsAg and HBV DNA quantitative were found negative for both these tests, meaning by nil transmission of HBV due to occupational exposure. Conclusion: Timely interventions after occupational exposure are effective but as prevention is better than cure, thus all health care workers, at the time of joining of job, should be mandatory vaccinated for HBV. Keywords: Hepatitis B virus; Per cutaneous transmission; Health care worker; HBV DNA Quantitative test; HbsAg