Occupational risk of hepatitis B infection in hospital workers.

To estimate the risk of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection among hospital workers, we measured the prevalence of HBV infection in employees in five hospitals in different parts of the country and examined the effect of occupational and non-occupational factors on HBV prevalence. Among 5,697 persons studied, serologic markers of HBV infection were found in 807 (14%). Prevalence of infection was strongly related to race (Asian greater than Black greater than White), sex (male greater than female) and increasing age.

The prevention of hepatitis B with vaccine. Report of the centers for disease control multi-center efficacy trial among homosexual men.

A randomized, double-blind, vaccine/placebo trial of the Merck 20-micrograms hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine was done among 1402 homosexual men attending venereal disease clinics in five American cities. Vaccination was followed by only minimal side effects. Two doses of vaccine induced antibody in 80% of vaccine recipients.

Hepatitis B in homosexual men: prevalence of infection and factors related to transmission.

Of 3,816 homosexual men examined in five sexually transmitted disease clinics in the United States, 6.1% had hepatitis B surface antigen, 52.4% had antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen, and 3.

Pathogenetic aspects of hepatitis A virus infection in enterally inoculated marmosets.

Experimental hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection was studied in marmosets after enteral (intragastric) inoculation with special reference to the primary sites of HAV replication and immunopathology of the disease. The experiment was carried out using 28 Saguinus mystax negative for antibody to HAV (anti-HAV) and with statistically uniform baseline values of serum isocitrate dehydrogenase (SICD) activity. Each animal was infected with 1 ml of a 15% w/v stool suspension that was derived from marmosets infected with the third or fourth passage of the MS-1 strain of HAV.

Distribution of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and anti-HBe in carriers with different levels of HBsAg.

Blood samples from 154 asymptomatic carriers of HBsAg were studied for the presence of HbeAg and anti-HBe using techniques of rheophoresis and a micro solid phase radioimmunoassay (micro-SPRIA). The level of HBsAg in each sample was determined by titration using reverse passive hemagglutination (RPHA) test. The significance of relationship between the titer of HBsAg, HBeAg, anti-HBe, and anti-HBc were statistically analyzed.

Hepatitis B infection in physicians. Results of a nationwide seroepidemiologic survey.

To define the epidemiologic features of occupationally acquired hepatitis B infection among physicians, we conducted a seroepidemiologic survey of physicians attending three American Medical Association conventions in 1975 and 1976. Of 1,192 participating physicians, 220 (18.5%) had serologic evidence of prior hepatitis B virus infection (positive hepatitis B surface antibody).