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Hepatitis B virus infection among residents of a nursing home for the elderly: Seroepidemiological study and molecular evolutionary analysis
Author(s) -
Sugauchi Fuminaka,
Mizokami Masashi,
Orito Etsuro,
Ohno Tomoyoshi,
Kato Hideaki,
Maki Mina,
Suzuki Hiko,
Ojika Kousei,
Ueda Ryuzo
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
journal of medical virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1096-9071
pISSN - 0146-6615
DOI - 10.1002/1096-9071(200012)62:4<456::aid-jmv10>3.0.co;2-3
Subject(s) - virology , nursing homes , virus , medicine , biology , viral disease , hepatitis b virus , hepatitis virus , nursing
A seroepidemiological study of HBV infection was carried out to investigate the seroprevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and the transmission routes of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection among residents of a nursing home for the elderly. HBV serum markers were examined in 119 residents and 71 healthcare workers in the institution, as also in 1330 healthy subjects from the same geographical area, as the control group. HBsAg was detected in 6 (5%), 0 and 20 (1.5%) residents, healthcare workers and healthy subjects, respectively. Four residents (A–D) who had HBV‐DNA in the serum were studied by molecular evolutionary analysis. The strains derived from residents A, B and D were clustered together within a close range of evolutionary distances. Residents B and D, who were not positive for HBsAg at the time of admission to the institution, subsequently became HBsAg‐positive asymptomatic carriers. These results suggested intrainstitutional transmission of HBV in the nursing home for the elderly, and confirmed that the source of transmission of HBV to residents B and D was resident A who was positive for HBsAg. Residents in a nursing home for the elderly should be considered as being a high‐risk group for HBV infection, and vaccination against HBV of these groups is recommended. J. Med. Virol. 62:456–462, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.