Serological investigation for hepatitis B in health care workers in Goiania city, Goiás State, Brazil

Markers for hepatitis B virus in health care workers were analysed in 625 employees of three institutions in Goiânia city. The virus prevalence was 23.4 % related to different markers (AgHBs, anit-HBs and anti-HBc). Among the positive individuals, 1.3% presented acute infection, 1.0% were virus carriers and21.1% presented only anti-HBs and 32.6% only anti-HBc as markers. There were 19 reports of virus vaccination. Eight of them seroconvertedfor anti-HBs and 6 were positive for both anti-HBc and anti-HBs. Higher prevalence rates were found above 30 year of age (p< 0.05). The male and female prevalence rates were 29.5 % and 21.1% (p< 0.05) respectively. The virus prevalence rates among blood and patient contacts were 25.9% (p< 0.05) and the highest prevalence was found in persons followed up for at least tenyears fp < 0.05). The greatest risk section has shown to be hemodialysis unitpersonnelwith a percentual of 77% (p< 0.05).