AI Article Synopsis
- The study assessed the prevalence of HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C among refugees at the Asylum Seeker Centre in Bari Palese, Italy, focusing on various nationalities between May and July 2008.
- Out of 529 refugees examined, 8.3% were HBsAg positive, 45.6% showed anti-HBc positivity, 4.5% were anti-HCV positive, and 1.5% were HIV positive, with 1.5% of VDRL tests returning positive results as well.
- The findings highlight the need for a comprehensive protocol in Italy for early detection and prevention of infectious diseases among asylum seekers to protect their health and that of the wider
Article Abstract
Background: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) serological markers and the prevalence of VDRL positive subjects in a population of refugees of various nationalities, living in the Asylum Seeker Centre in Bari Palese, Southern Italy.
Methods: The study was carried out in the period May-July 2008 and recruited only voluntarily enrolled healthy refugees. HBsAg, anti-HBc, anti-HCV and anti-HIV virus antibodies were detected. VDRL syphilis screening was also carried out on the serum samples.
Results: A total of 529 refugees, 442 males and 87 females, aged between 7 and 52 years, were studied. Of these, 510 were from Africa and 19 from Asia.Forty-four individuals (8.3%) were HBsAg positive and 241 (45.6%) were anti-HBc positive. A total of 24 (4.5%) individuals were anti-HCV positive. Eight asylum seekers (1.5%) were HIV positive. VDRL tests were performed on 269 subjects and 4 (1.5%) were positive. 12.3% of the study population had serological markers of chronic and transmissible infections with potential blood-borne or sexual transmission.
Conclusions: In Italy, a suitable protocol is necessary for the early diagnosis of infectious diseases on entering Asylum Centres, so allowing the adoption of prevention measures to safeguard the health of the individuals, the residents and workers in the Centres and the general population.
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| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2916911 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2334-10-213 | DOI Listing |
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