TY - JOUR
T1 - A multivariate analysis of risk factors for hepatitis b virus infection among hospital employees screened for vaccination
AU - Snydman, David R.
AU - Munoz, Alvaro
AU - Werner, Barbara G.
AU - Polk, B. Frank
AU - Craven, Donald E.
AU - Platt, Richard
AU - Crumpacker, Clyde
AU - Ouellet-hellstrom, Rita
AU - Nash, Barbara
AU - Grady, George F.
AU - Dienstag, Jules L.
PY - 1984/11
Y1 - 1984/11
N2 - Previous studies of risk factors for hepatitis B virus infection among hospital employees have been based on surveys in single institutions or have been analyzed with univariate techniques. From November 1980 through August 1981, the authors performed a multi-institutional seroepidemiologic survey of hospital employees screened for entrance into a hepatatis B vaccine trial who represented groups at high risk for hepatitis B Infection. Using a logistic regression model for the analysis of risk factors, the investigators determined the relative odds and 95% confidence intervals for risk of hepatitis B infection to be as follows: race (nonwhite/white: 3.4; 2.4-4.8) (p < 0.001); history of acute viral hepatitis of an unspecified type (3.6; 2.2-5.9) (p < 0.001); and employment at hospitals 1 through 5 as compared with hospital 6 (1.8; 1.1-2.9) (p = 0.015). In addition, certain job categories and the duration of employment within some of these categories were associated with increasing risk for hepatitis B infection over time. Laboratory workers (1.4; 1.2-1.7), surgical staff (1.2; 1.1-1.4), and medical staff (1.3; 1.1-1.5) had significant (p < 0.05) increased risk of prior infection with longer duration of employment. Such time-job interaction was not demonstrable for nursing staff, anesthesiology staff, dental personnel, pathology staff, or ancillary personnel. The logistic regression model also shows that the highest gradient of risk for laboratory workers, surgeons, and medical staff occurs during the first five years of employment. An effective preventive strategy, such as the use of hepatitis B vaccine, should be targeted for these groups at the time of initial employment.
AB - Previous studies of risk factors for hepatitis B virus infection among hospital employees have been based on surveys in single institutions or have been analyzed with univariate techniques. From November 1980 through August 1981, the authors performed a multi-institutional seroepidemiologic survey of hospital employees screened for entrance into a hepatatis B vaccine trial who represented groups at high risk for hepatitis B Infection. Using a logistic regression model for the analysis of risk factors, the investigators determined the relative odds and 95% confidence intervals for risk of hepatitis B infection to be as follows: race (nonwhite/white: 3.4; 2.4-4.8) (p < 0.001); history of acute viral hepatitis of an unspecified type (3.6; 2.2-5.9) (p < 0.001); and employment at hospitals 1 through 5 as compared with hospital 6 (1.8; 1.1-2.9) (p = 0.015). In addition, certain job categories and the duration of employment within some of these categories were associated with increasing risk for hepatitis B infection over time. Laboratory workers (1.4; 1.2-1.7), surgical staff (1.2; 1.1-1.4), and medical staff (1.3; 1.1-1.5) had significant (p < 0.05) increased risk of prior infection with longer duration of employment. Such time-job interaction was not demonstrable for nursing staff, anesthesiology staff, dental personnel, pathology staff, or ancillary personnel. The logistic regression model also shows that the highest gradient of risk for laboratory workers, surgeons, and medical staff occurs during the first five years of employment. An effective preventive strategy, such as the use of hepatitis B vaccine, should be targeted for these groups at the time of initial employment.
KW - Hepatitis B
KW - Hospital
KW - Immunization
KW - Occupational diseases
KW - Personnel
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U2 - 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a113935
DO - 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a113935
M3 - Article
C2 - 6496449
AN - SCOPUS:0021673275
SN - 0002-9262
VL - 120
SP - 684
EP - 693
JO - American journal of epidemiology
JF - American journal of epidemiology
IS - 5
ER -