Abstract

Objective: We aimed to determine the antibody levels of healthcare workers of Celal Bayar University Hospital against vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, rubella, mumps, diphtheria, tetanus, varicella and hepatitis B, and encourage compliance to recommended vaccinations for non-immune staff.

Methods: The antibody levels were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Demographic characteristics were collected by a questionnaire, and the history of the diseases, immunization and the sharps-related injuries were queried.

Results: 44% percent of 309 healthcare personnel were exposed to occupational injury at least once, and 78.3% of the injuries were needle-stick injuries. Injuries were found to be more common among doctors and nurses, and pediatric and surgical departments, respectively. Frequency of anti-HBs positivity among healthcare workers was 84.1%, while 71.5% of healthcare workers were immunized with HBV vaccine before starting to work, and the immunization status directly correlated with the level of education. In general, high seropositivity was noted for measles (99.7%), rubella (97.0%), mumps (99.7%) and varicella (99.7%), while diphtheria (60.8%) and tetanus (93.5%) antibody levels significantly decreased with age. Histories of the disease and vaccination were not reliable while verifying the immunity status.

Conclusions: It is necessary to increase adherence to universal protective measures in healthcare workers and to take corrective and protective measures for sharps-related injuries. It is also essential to increase hepatitis B vaccination rates and to confirm the immune status of medical staff working in high risk departments and diphtheria and tetanus vaccinations should be repeated once every ten years.