Point‐of‐Care Screening, Prevalence, and Risk Factors for Hepatitis B Infection Among 3,728 Mainly Undocumented Migrants From Non‐EU Countries in Northern Italy

Background Screening migrants from areas where hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is endemic is important to implement preventive measures in Europe. The aim of our study was to assess (1) the feasibility of point‐of‐care screening in a primary care clinic and (2) hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of travel medicine 2015-03, Vol.22 (2), p.78-86
Main Authors: El‐Hamad, Issa, Pezzoli, Maria Chiara, Chiari, Erika, Scarcella, Carmelo, Vassallo, Francesco, Puoti, Massimo, Ciccaglione, Anna, Ciccozzi, Massimo, Scalzini, Alfredo, Castelli, Francesco
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Africa - ethnology
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Antigens
Carrier State
Disease prevention
DNA, Viral - analysis
Emigrants and Immigrants
Female
Genotype & phenotype
Hepatitis
Hepatitis B - blood
Hepatitis B - epidemiology
Hepatitis B - etiology
Hepatitis B - prevention & control
Hepatitis B Surface Antigens - blood
Hepatitis B virus
Hepatitis B virus - genetics
Humans
Infections
Italy - epidemiology
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Mass Screening - methods
Medical screening
Middle Aged
Noncitizens
Point-of-Care Systems
Prevalence
Prospective Studies
Risk Factors
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Summary:Background Screening migrants from areas where hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is endemic is important to implement preventive measures in Europe. The aim of our study was to assess (1) the feasibility of point‐of‐care screening in a primary care clinic and (2) hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) prevalence, associated risk factors, and its clinical and epidemiological implications in undocumented migrants in Brescia, northern Italy. Methods A longitudinal prospective study was conducted from January 2006 to April 2010 to assess HBsAg reactivity and associated risk factors among consenting undocumented migrants who accessed the Service of International Medicine of Brescia's Local Health Authority. Genotyping assay was also performed in HBV DNA‐positive patients. Results Screening was accepted by 3,728/4,078 (91.4%) subjects consecutively observed during the study period, 224 (6%) of whom were found to be HBsAg‐positive. HBsAg reactivity was independently associated with the prevalence of HBsAg carriers in the geographical area of provenance (p 
ISSN:1195-1982
1708-8305
DOI:10.1111/jtm.12176