PREVALENCE OF HEPATITIS B IN PERSON WHO APPLIED AUTOPSY OR STUDIED WITH AUTOPSY MATERIALS

Ince H, Gurpinar S, Aliustaoglu S, Ince N, Asirdizer M.

3rd Anti-microbic Chemotherapy Days. The Meeting of Clinical and Laboratory Applications and Innovations, May 16-22, 1997, Kusadası. The Publication of Association of Turkish Microbiology 31: pp: 373.

ABSTRACT

The average rate of HBV infection, which was accepted as an occupational disease by WHO in 1992, is 8% in health care workers. This study was realized in the staff working at the Council of Forensic Medicine in which multi-purpose autopsies (forensic, pathological, educational) have been done at the period of January - February 1997. The objectives of the study were to determine the serological status for HBV and also knowledge and behavioral patterns of the staff regarding the blood-borne diseases. Cross - sectional method was employed. 66.8 % of the staff was found as immune against HBV, 13.3 % were carriers of HBsAg, 77.8 % of the staff has changed gloves between autopsies and 33.3 % has regularly used mask. As conclusion, efforts should be devoted to vaccination and universal precaution as well as training of the staff.

Key words: Hepatitis B, autopsy, blood-borne diseases.