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Intradermal Recombinant Hepatitis B Vaccine for Healthcare Workers Who Fail to Respond to Intramuscular Vaccine

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

E. Geoffrey Playford*
Affiliation:
Infection Management Service, Princess Alexandra Hospital and District Health Service, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Patrick G. Hogan
Affiliation:
Department of Immunology, Princess Alexandra Hospital and District Health Service, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Amolak S. Bansal
Affiliation:
Department of Immunology, Princess Alexandra Hospital and District Health Service, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Kareena Harrison
Affiliation:
Infection Management Service, Princess Alexandra Hospital and District Health Service, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
David Drummond
Affiliation:
Queensland Medical Laboratories, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
David F. M. Looke
Affiliation:
Infection Management Service, Princess Alexandra Hospital and District Health Service, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Michael Whitby
Affiliation:
Infection Management Service, Princess Alexandra Hospital and District Health Service, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
*
Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Laboratory Services, Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia

Abstract

Objective:

To study the humoral immune responses, safety, and tolerability of intradermal recombinant hepatitis B vaccination in healthcare workers (HCWs) nonresponsive to previous repeated intramuscular vaccination.

Design:

An open, prospective, before–after trial.

Setting:

A tertiary referral hospital and surrounding district health service in Queensland, Australia.

Participants:

Hospital and community HCWs nonresponsive to previous intramuscular hepatitis B vaccination.

Methods:

Intradermal recombinant hepatitis B vaccine was administered every second week for a maximum of 4 doses. Hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs) responses were assessed 2 weeks after each dose.

Results:

Protective anti-HBs levels developed in 17 (94%) of 18 study subjects. Three doses resulted in seroconversion of all responding subjects and the highest geometric mean antibody concentration. The vaccine was well tolerated.

Conclusion:

More than 90% of previously nonresponsive HCWs responded to intradermal recombinant hepatitis B vaccine with protective anti-HBs levels.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2002

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