OBJECTIVE To evaluate the seroprevalence of hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) in patients living in France with recent-onset polyarthritis suggesting rheumatoid arthritis. METHODS The 813 patients in the ESPOIR cohort were screened for anti-HCV antibodies and HBs antigen. RESULTS Seroprevalence was 0.86% for HCV (n = 7) and 0.12% for HBV (n = 1). HCV-related arthritis was diagnosed in 4 (0.5%) ...

BackgroundLao People’s Democratic Republic has frequent outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases (VPD). This study aimed to determine susceptibility and exposure VPD in Saravan, a rural province with high ethnic diversity some the poorest health indicators nationwide.MethodsPatients from three district hospitals one provincial hospital were enrolled. Serum was tested by ELISA for IgG against h...

OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in heterosexual patients attending two genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics in the West Midlands and to examine whether heterosexual activity is a risk factor for acquiring HBV infection with the view to extend HBV vaccination policies to cover this group. DESIGN HBV markers were determined in the GUM study group and c...

OBJECTIVE The purpose of the study was to investigate infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among patients in a dermatology practice. METHODS Historical cohort, matched case-control, and cross-sectional survey methods were used. RESULTS The age-specific incidence of reported HBV infection in the practice from 1985 through 1991 was more than 12 times t...

BACKGROUND Transfusion-transmissible infectious agents such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and syphilis are among the greatest threats to blood safety for the recipient. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence, risk factors and trends of HIV, HBV, HCV and syphilis infections among blood donors over a period of five years at Gonda...

Viral hepatitis is the most common cause of serious health problems such as liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Leading to immunodeficiency disorders through different mechanisms, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) causes the development of severe secondary infections. Hepatitis A (HAV) is thought to spread by the faecal-oral route, while Hepatitis B (HBV), Hepatitis C (HCV) and...

At present, the risk for acquiring hepatitis B virus (HBV) among hospital personnel is high. A cross-sectional analytic study of 380 hospital personnel was conducted in a governmental hospital in Bangkok to investigate HBV sero-prevalence and to assess risk factors in order to develop the risk assessment form for screening the occupational risk of HBV among this group. The studied personnel who...

OBJECTIVES Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is an important worldwide public health problem and it has been cause of elevated morbidity and mortality rates. The objectives of this study were determine the HBV infection seroprevalence in psychiatric institutions and in individuals with Down's syndrome, detect viral DNA in HBsAg and anti-HBc total positive serum samples and determine the HBsAg s...

BACKGROUND The objectives of the study were to study the seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections among health college students (HS) and health care workers (HCWs) in the Najran Region of south-western Saudi Arabia and to study the students' knowledge of occupational exposure to blood-borne viral infections. METHODS A cross-sectional study of a represen...

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is one of the public-health issues worldwide. Approximately two billion people are infected with HBV, and about 350 million people are chronic carriers globally. About 3% of the world population is infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). Oncology patients receiving packed red blood cell suspensions and other blood products usually are in the high-risk group for infections...