Determination of Anti-HBs Titers among Health-Care Workers in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Delhi: A Cross-Sectional Study.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51168/p0y7z359Cuvinte cheie:
protective immunity, healthcare professionals, Anti-HBs, booster shots, routine screeningRezumat
Background:
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major occupational hazard among healthcare workers (HCWs) because of frequent exposure to blood and body fluids. Although hepatitis B vaccination provides effective protection, post-vaccination immunity may decline over time, making periodic assessment of anti-hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs) titres important.
Objective:
To determine the anti-HBs antibody titres among healthcare workers in a tertiary care hospital in Delhi and assess their immune status against hepatitis B infection.
Methods:
A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 392 healthcare workers at a tertiary care hospital in Delhi. Demographic information, hepatitis B vaccination status, and anti-HBs antibody titres were collected and analyzed. Anti-HBs levels were categorized as <10 mIU/mL, 11–100 mIU/mL, 101–160 mIU/mL, and >160 mIU/mL to assess the level of seroprotection.
Results:
Of the 392 healthcare workers, 323 (82.3%) had protective anti-HBs titres (≥10 mIU/mL), while 69 (17.6%) had non-protective titres (<10 mIU/mL). Among participants with protective immunity, 124 (31.6%) had antibody levels of 11–100 mIU/mL, 96 (24.4%) had titres of 101–160 mIU/mL, and 103 (26.2%) had titres >160 mIU/mL, indicating varying degrees of immune protection following hepatitis B vaccination.
Conclusion:
Most healthcare workers demonstrated protective immunity against hepatitis B following vaccination. However, a considerable proportion remained inadequately protected, highlighting the need for continued monitoring of antibody levels to identify individuals at risk.
Recommendation:
Healthcare institutions should implement routine post-vaccination anti-HBs antibody screening, ensure completion of hepatitis B vaccination schedules, and provide booster doses or revaccination for healthcare workers with non-protective antibody titres to maintain long-term occupational protection.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Shillpa Arora, Manoj Kumar, Sanjay Jain, Arti Kapil
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