Hepatitis B Virus Exposure, Seroprotection Status, and Susceptibility in Health Care Workers From Lao People’s Democratic Republic: Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract BackgroundDespite the high prevalence of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in adults in Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), Lao health care workers (HCWs) have previously been shown to have low levels of protection against infection. Furthermore, the p...

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Main Authors: Siriphone Virachith, Khanxayaphone Phakhounthong, Vilaysone Khounvisith, Mayfong Mayxay, Sengchanh Kounnavong, Somphou Sayasone, Judith M Hübschen, Antony P Black
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: JMIR Publications 2024-12-01
Series:JMIR Public Health and Surveillance
Online Access:https://publichealth.jmir.org/2024/1/e65093
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author Siriphone Virachith
Khanxayaphone Phakhounthong
Vilaysone Khounvisith
Mayfong Mayxay
Sengchanh Kounnavong
Somphou Sayasone
Judith M Hübschen
Antony P Black
author_facet Siriphone Virachith
Khanxayaphone Phakhounthong
Vilaysone Khounvisith
Mayfong Mayxay
Sengchanh Kounnavong
Somphou Sayasone
Judith M Hübschen
Antony P Black
author_sort Siriphone Virachith
collection DOAJ
description Abstract BackgroundDespite the high prevalence of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in adults in Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), Lao health care workers (HCWs) have previously been shown to have low levels of protection against infection. Furthermore, the prevalence of hepatitis D virus (HDV), which increases disease severity in individuals infected with HBV, is not known in Lao PDR. ObjectiveThis study aimed to estimate the exposure and seroprotection against HBV, as well as exposure to HDV, in Lao HCWs from 5 provinces. MethodsIn 2020, a total of 666 HCWs aged 20 to 65 years from 5 provinces of Lao PDR were recruited, and their sera were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to determine their HBV and HDV coinfection status. ResultsHBV exposure, as indicated by the presence of anti–hepatitis B core antibodies, was 40.1% (267/666) overall and significantly higher for HCWs from Oudomxay province (21/31, 67.7%; adjusted odds ratio 3.69, 95% CI 1.68‐8.12; P= ConclusionsThe study found intermediate hepatitis B surface antigen prevalence among HCWs in Lao PDR, with no evidence of HDV coinfection. Notably, a significant proportion of HCWs remains susceptible to HBV, indicating a substantial gap in seroprotection against the disease.
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spelling doaj-art-e90b1d29d3fa4d39958d9abcfad7f8a82025-08-20T02:58:15ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR Public Health and Surveillance2369-29602024-12-0110e65093e6509310.2196/65093Hepatitis B Virus Exposure, Seroprotection Status, and Susceptibility in Health Care Workers From Lao People’s Democratic Republic: Cross-Sectional StudySiriphone Virachithhttp://orcid.org/0000-0001-5049-0544Khanxayaphone Phakhounthonghttp://orcid.org/0009-0006-8042-7267Vilaysone Khounvisithhttp://orcid.org/0009-0000-7251-4973Mayfong Mayxayhttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-6056-4516Sengchanh Kounnavonghttp://orcid.org/0000-0001-5766-5941Somphou Sayasonehttp://orcid.org/0000-0001-8219-9567Judith M Hübschenhttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-5001-2128Antony P Blackhttp://orcid.org/0000-0003-0579-0702 Abstract BackgroundDespite the high prevalence of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in adults in Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), Lao health care workers (HCWs) have previously been shown to have low levels of protection against infection. Furthermore, the prevalence of hepatitis D virus (HDV), which increases disease severity in individuals infected with HBV, is not known in Lao PDR. ObjectiveThis study aimed to estimate the exposure and seroprotection against HBV, as well as exposure to HDV, in Lao HCWs from 5 provinces. MethodsIn 2020, a total of 666 HCWs aged 20 to 65 years from 5 provinces of Lao PDR were recruited, and their sera were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to determine their HBV and HDV coinfection status. ResultsHBV exposure, as indicated by the presence of anti–hepatitis B core antibodies, was 40.1% (267/666) overall and significantly higher for HCWs from Oudomxay province (21/31, 67.7%; adjusted odds ratio 3.69, 95% CI 1.68‐8.12; P= ConclusionsThe study found intermediate hepatitis B surface antigen prevalence among HCWs in Lao PDR, with no evidence of HDV coinfection. Notably, a significant proportion of HCWs remains susceptible to HBV, indicating a substantial gap in seroprotection against the disease.https://publichealth.jmir.org/2024/1/e65093
spellingShingle Siriphone Virachith
Khanxayaphone Phakhounthong
Vilaysone Khounvisith
Mayfong Mayxay
Sengchanh Kounnavong
Somphou Sayasone
Judith M Hübschen
Antony P Black
Hepatitis B Virus Exposure, Seroprotection Status, and Susceptibility in Health Care Workers From Lao People’s Democratic Republic: Cross-Sectional Study
JMIR Public Health and Surveillance
title Hepatitis B Virus Exposure, Seroprotection Status, and Susceptibility in Health Care Workers From Lao People’s Democratic Republic: Cross-Sectional Study
title_full Hepatitis B Virus Exposure, Seroprotection Status, and Susceptibility in Health Care Workers From Lao People’s Democratic Republic: Cross-Sectional Study
title_fullStr Hepatitis B Virus Exposure, Seroprotection Status, and Susceptibility in Health Care Workers From Lao People’s Democratic Republic: Cross-Sectional Study
title_full_unstemmed Hepatitis B Virus Exposure, Seroprotection Status, and Susceptibility in Health Care Workers From Lao People’s Democratic Republic: Cross-Sectional Study
title_short Hepatitis B Virus Exposure, Seroprotection Status, and Susceptibility in Health Care Workers From Lao People’s Democratic Republic: Cross-Sectional Study
title_sort hepatitis b virus exposure seroprotection status and susceptibility in health care workers from lao people s democratic republic cross sectional study
url https://publichealth.jmir.org/2024/1/e65093
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