[Age and duration of employment of health care workers with occupational viral hepatitis B and C].

BACKGROUND In this paper we present the study of the incidence of hepatitis B and C among health care workers in the Pomorskie voivodeship in the years 1999-2009. The aim of the study was to analyze the relationship between the certified occupational HCV and HBV infections and the age and duration of employment of infected health care workers. MATERIAL AND METHODS To analyze the epidemiological situation of occupational hepatitis among health care workers in the Pomorskie voivodeship, the data 338 occupational disease certificates were obtained. RESULTS Of the 338 certified cases of occupational viral hepatitis during this period 222 (65.7%) cases were diagnosed with hepatitis B, and 116 (34.3%) with hepatitis C. The total number of health care workers included 301 (89%) women, and 37 (11%) men. The majority of occupational hepatitis cases occurred in the following age groups 45-49, 40-44, 50-54 and 35-39 years. The mean age for the whole population was 46.20 years. The average duration of employment was 18.34 years, and it was lower for women than for men by 1.71 years (18.15 vs. 19.86). The cases of hepatitis mostly occurred during the periods of 15-19, 20-24 and 25-29 years of employment (50% of cases). CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that the employees used to postpone the procedure of occupational disease certification. Short work experience confirms a higher risk of infection among employees of analytical laboratories and dental offices. The relationship between a higher risk of infection in workers and a shorter duration of employment (little work experience) was evidenced.