Evaluating the Effect of Booster Dose of Hepatitis B Vaccine in Low-and Non-Responders Healthcare Workers and the Role of some Host-Related Factors

Problem statement: Hepatitis B comprises one of the major health problems worldwide. Health Care Workers (HCW) are a group at risk for Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection. Infection with hepatitis B virus has become a vaccine-preventable disease. Vaccination against Hepatitis B Virus infection (HBV) is safe and effective. The aim of this study is evaluation the immunologic response of booster dose of Hepatitis B vaccine in none and low responder health care workers and effects of some host-related factors. Approach: In a cross sectional descriptive analytic study carried out on the medical staff of Tabriz Shahid Madani Hospital in 2009-2010, we evaluated the immunologic response of booster dose of Hepatitis B vaccine in none and low responder health care workers and effects of some host-related factors. Results: Of 331 studied health care workers, 123 people (37.2%) were male and 208 people (62.8%) female. The mean antibody titer in the studied medical staff was 304.07±199.98 IU L^-1 in the range of 0-1000 and median of 330. Dividing the antibody titer into three groups of "no response" (Titer<10 IU L^-1), "Low response" (Titer10-100 IU L^-1) and "Good response" (Titer>100 IU L^-1) revealed that from 331 studied staff, 31 people (9.4%) were in "no response" group, 40 people (12.1%) in "Low response" group and 260 people (78.59%) in "Good response" group and after one booster dose of vaccine in none and low responder group, 7 people (2.1%) were in "no response" group, 5 people (1.5%) in "Low response" group and 319 people (96.4%) in "Good response" group. Conclusion: One booster dose of vaccine in people with low and none Response to hepatitis B vaccination cause to significantly increase of antibody titer so that, Good response rate increase from 78.5-96.4% and low response rate decrease from 12.1-1.5% and none response rate decrease from 9.4-2.1%. Use one booster dose of vaccine recommended in people with antibody titer blow 100.