Hepatitis B vaccination for healthcare personnel in American Samoa: pre-implementation survey for policy decision

American Samoa does not have a hepatitis B vaccination policy for healthcare personnel (HCP). Consequently, hepatitis B has remained a health threat to HCP. In this study, we performed a cross-sectional study and examined demographic and risk information and hepatitis B vaccination, testing, and ser...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Epidemiology and infection 2014-12, Vol.142 (12), p.2610-2615
Main Authors: LY, K. N., ROBERTS, H., WILLIAMS, R. E., MASUNU-FALEAFAGA, Y., DROBENIUC, J., KAMILI, S., TESHALE, E. H.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
American Samoa
Antibodies
Antigens
Biological and medical sciences
Cross-Sectional Studies
Employees
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Health Policy
Hepatitis
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B - prevention & control
Hepatitis B Vaccines - administration & dosage
Hospitals
Human viral diseases
Humans
Immunization
Infections
Infectious diseases
Male
Medical laboratories
Medical sciences
Microbiology
Needlestick injuries
Occupational Exposure
Personnel, Hospital - statistics & numerical data
Short Reports
Viral diseases
Viral hepatitis
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Summary:American Samoa does not have a hepatitis B vaccination policy for healthcare personnel (HCP). Consequently, hepatitis B has remained a health threat to HCP. In this study, we performed a cross-sectional study and examined demographic and risk information and hepatitis B vaccination, testing, and serostatus in hospital employees in American Samoa. Of 604 hospital employees, 231 (38·2%) participated, and of these, 158 (68·4%) were HCP. Of HCP participants, 1·9% had chronic hepatitis B infection, 36·1% were susceptible, and 60·8% were immune. Nearly half of HCP participants reported history of needlestick injury. Overall, participants' knowledge of their hepatitis B infection and vaccination status was low. These data support the adoption of a hepatitis B vaccination policy for HCP by American Samoa, as currently recommended by the World Health Organization and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Adherence to the policy could be monitored as a way to measure protection.
ISSN:0950-2688
1469-4409
DOI:10.1017/S0950268813003506