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Occupational Medicine 1994;44:9-11
© 1994 Society of Occupational Medicine

research-article

Hepatitis B markers in Gloucestershire firemen

R. J. Springbett, K. A. V. Cartwright, B. E. Watson, R. Morris and A. Cantle

Public Health Laboratory, Gloucestershire Royal Hospital Great Western Road, Gloucester, UK

Occupational exposure to blood and body fluids and the prevalence of serological markers of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection were studied in Gloucestershire firemen to assess the occupational risk of HBV infection. A high compliance was achieved (472/503, 94 per cent). Cumulative occupational exposure to blood or body fluids rose progressively to 68 per cent after 24 years' service. No sera were positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Six sera were positive for hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs) and were tested for hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc). The four subjects who were positive for anti-HBs alone had all received HBV vaccine. Two sera contained both anti-HBs and anti-HBc. Therefore, 2/472 firemen (0.42 per cent) showed evidence of previous HBV infection, a similar proportion to that found in a recent study in UK blood donors (0.49 per cent). Despite considerable exposure to blood and body fluids, an occupational risk of hepatitis B infection was not found in Gloucestershire firemen.

Correspondence and reprint requests to: Dr K. Cartwright, Public Health Laboratory, Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, Great Western Road, Gloucestershire GL1 3NN, UK


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