TY - JOUR
T1 - Hepatitis B vaccination in correctional health care workers
AU - Gershon, Robyn R.M.
AU - Mitchell, Clifford
AU - Sherman, Martin F.
AU - Vlahov, David
AU - Lears, Mary Kathleen
AU - Felknor, Sarah
AU - Lubelczyk, Rebecca A.
N1 - Funding Information:
Supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (grant no. 7R01OH03459-02).
PY - 2005/11
Y1 - 2005/11
N2 - Background: Data on bloodborne pathogen risk among health care workers (HCWs) employed in the correctional setting are sparse, even though the prevalence of bloodborne infections, including hepatitis B virus (HBV), among inmates is high. To address this, we determined prevalence and correlates of hepatitis B virus vaccination status in correctional health care workers (CHCWs) employed in 3 state correctional health care facilities. Methods: A confidential, self-administered cross-sectional survey was performed. Results: Four hundred eleven (69.8%) of 588 eligible participants completed the survey. Of these, 264 (64.2%) reported receiving a primary hepatitis B (HB) vaccine series. Vaccination rates varied by state and by job category. Parenteral exposures were not uncommon; 8.6% (n = 24) of clinical CHCWs and 2.0% (n = 7) of nonclinical CHCWs reported one or more needlesticks in the 6-month period prior to the study. Among clinical staff, vaccination correlated with licensure (RN or MD) and race (white) and in nonclinical staff with history of close contact with HBV infected inmates and with needlestick injury. Conclusion: Although the HB vaccination rate among CHCWs was generally high, given their potential risk of exposure to HBV, universal vaccination should be encouraged and should include those nonclinicians with job duties that may involve potential exposure to blood/body fluids.
AB - Background: Data on bloodborne pathogen risk among health care workers (HCWs) employed in the correctional setting are sparse, even though the prevalence of bloodborne infections, including hepatitis B virus (HBV), among inmates is high. To address this, we determined prevalence and correlates of hepatitis B virus vaccination status in correctional health care workers (CHCWs) employed in 3 state correctional health care facilities. Methods: A confidential, self-administered cross-sectional survey was performed. Results: Four hundred eleven (69.8%) of 588 eligible participants completed the survey. Of these, 264 (64.2%) reported receiving a primary hepatitis B (HB) vaccine series. Vaccination rates varied by state and by job category. Parenteral exposures were not uncommon; 8.6% (n = 24) of clinical CHCWs and 2.0% (n = 7) of nonclinical CHCWs reported one or more needlesticks in the 6-month period prior to the study. Among clinical staff, vaccination correlated with licensure (RN or MD) and race (white) and in nonclinical staff with history of close contact with HBV infected inmates and with needlestick injury. Conclusion: Although the HB vaccination rate among CHCWs was generally high, given their potential risk of exposure to HBV, universal vaccination should be encouraged and should include those nonclinicians with job duties that may involve potential exposure to blood/body fluids.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.ajic.2005.04.245
DO - 10.1016/j.ajic.2005.04.245
M3 - Article
C2 - 16260326
AN - SCOPUS:27644511664
SN - 0196-6553
VL - 33
SP - 510
EP - 518
JO - American Journal of Infection Control
JF - American Journal of Infection Control
IS - 9
ER -