HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Pasko, M T Articles by Beam, T R Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Pasko, M T Articles by Beam, T R, Jr

Persistence of anti-HBs among health care personnel immunized with hepatitis B vaccine.

M T Pasko and T R Beam, Jr

Infectious Diseases Section, Buffalo VA Medical Center, NY 14215.

Health care personnel who received the hepatitis B vaccine (Heptavax-BR, MSD) were followed for persistence of hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs). Response occurred in 135/146 (92.5 percent) vaccinees. Loss of anti-HBs (less than 72 RIA units; 10 S/N) occurred in 35.9 percent during the 36-month surveillance. Stepwise discriminant analysis found age and magnitude of initial antibody level, but not weight-height index, to be predictive of antibody loss over the 36 months. Twenty-four of 27 employees (88.9 percent) who lost anti-HBs responded to a fourth vaccine dose. In contrast, three of eight initial non-responders (37.5 percent) developed antibody after a fourth vaccine dose.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				T. Lincoln, R. W. Tuthill, S. L. DePietro, M. J. Tocco, K. Keough, and T. J. Conklin Viral Hepatitis, Risk Behaviors, Aminotransferase Levels, and Screening Options at a County Correctional Center Journal of Correctional Health Care, October 1, 2006; 12(4): 249 - 261. [Abstract] [PDF]

				B. J. McMahon, D. L. Bruden, K. M. Petersen, L. R. Bulkow, A. J. Parkinson, O. Nainan, M. Khristova, C. Zanis, H. Peters, and H. S. Margolis Antibody Levels and Protection after Hepatitis B Vaccination: Results of a 15-Year Follow-up Ann Intern Med, March 1, 2005; 142(5): 333 - 341. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. E. Burns, D. Carroll, C. Ring, L. K. Harrison, and M. Drayson Stress, Coping, and Hepatitis B Antibody Status Psychosom Med, March 1, 2002; 64(2): 287 - 293. [Abstract] [Full Text]