Hepatitis B Virus Exposure, Seroprotection Status, and Susceptibility in Health Care Workers From Lao People's Democratic Republic: Cross-Sectional Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Despite the high prevalence of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in adults in Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), Lao health care workers (HCWs) have previously been shown to have low levels of protection against infection. Furthermore, the prevalence of hepatitis D virus (HDV), which increases disease severity in individuals infected with HBV, is not known in Lao PDR.

Objective

This study aimed to estimate the exposure and seroprotection against HBV, as well as exposure to HDV, in Lao HCWs from 5 provinces.

Methods

In 2020, a total of 666 HCWs aged 20 to 65 years from 5 provinces of Lao PDR were recruited, and their sera were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to determine their HBV and HDV coinfection status.

Results

HBV ex

SUBMITTER: Virachith S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11683653 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature