Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-r5fsc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T07:21:06.307Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Serological markers of hepatitis B in long-stay patients in a psychiatric hospital

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2014

Miriam A. Gannon ,
Denis J. Murphy  and
John F. Corish
Miriam A. Gannon*
Affiliation:
St. Brendan's Hospital, Rathdown Road, Dublin 7
Denis J. Murphy
Affiliation:
St. Brendan's Hospital, Rathdown Road, Dublin 7
John F. Corish
Affiliation:
St. Brendan's Hospital, Rathdown Road, Dublin 7
*
*St. Vincent's Hospital, Fairview, Dublin 3
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Hepatitis B surface antigen and antibody to hepatitis B core antigen were measured in 232 long-term psychiatric patients. The aims of the study were to determine the prevalence of infection and to relate it to factors such as age, sex, duration of hospital stay and diagnosis.

There was both an increased rate and increased evidence of past infection amongst the patients tested relative to the general population. There was no statistical significant difference between the antibody positive group compared to the antibody negative group for age, sex and duration of hospital stay, unlike that found in studies of mentally handicapped patients. There was a positive association between the presence of antibody and patient diagnosis. Patients with mental handicap appear to have a predilection for hepatitis B.

Further work needs to be done to elucidate the epidemiology of hepatitis B in psychiatric patients and evaluate the reservoir of infection present.

Keywords

Serological MarkersHepatitis BLong-stayPsychiatric Hospital
Type
Original Papers
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 7 , Issue 1 , March 1990 , pp. 18 - 21
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1990

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Lutwick, LJ. Hepatitis B virus. In: Belshe, RB, ed. Textbook of human virology. Massachusetts: PSG Publishing Company Inc, 1984: 729–256.Google Scholar
2.Shattock, AG, Kelly, MG, Fielding, J, Arthurs, Y. Epidemic hepatitis B with delta-antigenaemia among Dublin drug-abusers. Ir J Med Sci 1982; 151: 334–338.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3.Szmuness, W, Prince, AM, Etling, GF, Pick, R. Development and distribution of hemagglutinating antibody against the hepatitis B antigen in institutionalised populations. J Infect Dis 1972; 126: 498–506.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4.Goodman, M, Wainwright, RL, Weir, HF, Gall, JC. A sex difference in the carrier state of Australian antigen. Paeds 1971; 48: 907–13.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
5.Smith, DA. Hepatitis B in a general psychiatric hospital. N Eng J Med 1986; 314: 1255–6.Google Scholar
6.Gmelin, K, Doerr, HW, Middelhoff, H, Ehrlich, VB, Sann, G, Theilmann, G, and Kommerell, B. Hepatitis markers in a psychiatric institution. Dev Biol Stand 1983; 54: 545–548.Google Scholar
7.Maguire, T, Austin, FJ, McInnes, EJ. Hepatitis B antigen in a psychiatric hospital population. N Z Med J 1979; 90: 183–86.Google Scholar
8.Fagan, EA, Tolley, P, Smith, HM, Peters, MP, Coleman, J, Elliott, P, Williams, R, Eddleston, AL. Hepatitis B vaccine: immunogenicity and follow-up including two year booster doses in high risk health care personal in a London teaching hospital. J Med Virol 1987; 1 (01 21): 49–56.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
9.Karayiannis, P, Novick, DM, Lok, ASF, Fowler, MJF, Monjardino, J. Hepatitis B virus DNA in saliva, urine and seminal fluid of carriers of hepatitis Be antigen. Br Med J 1985; 290: 1853–1854.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
10.Kingham, JGL, McGuire, M, Paine, DHD, Wright, R. Hepatitis B in a hospital for the mentally subnormal in southern England. Br Med J 1978; 2: 594–596.CrossRefGoogle Scholar