Hepatitis B vaccination status and needlestick injuries among healthcare workers in syria.

Background: Although a majority of countries in the Middle East show intermediate or high endemicity of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, which clearly poses a serious public health problem in the region, the situation in the Republic of Syria remains unclear. The aim of this study is to determine the hepatitis B vaccination status, to assess the number of vaccinations administered, and to estimate the annual incidence of needlestick injuries (NSIs) among healthcare workers (HCWs) in Aleppo University hospitals.

Materials And Methods: A cross-sectional design with a survey questionnaire was used for exploring details of NSIs during 2008, hepatitis B vaccination status, and HBV infection among a random stratified sample of HCWs in three tertiary hospitals in Aleppo (n = 321).

Epidemiology of hemodialysis patients in Aleppo city.

To determine the characteristics of the hemodialysis (HD) patients in Aleppo city, we surveyed the hospitals representing the main dialysis centers in the city including private and community facilities during 2006. Personal patients' interviews and hospitals records were the source of data. The total number of patients in 2006 undergoing HD was 550 patients; 280 (50.