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Introduction. Blood-borne infections are a serious problem among medical staff, especially nursing staff, because nurses have the most frequent contact with patients. As future employees of health care, students of nursing are exposed to a number of hazardous factors. Work with patients of unknown serological status (during practical classes and apprenticeships) is associated with the risk of infection with various pathogens. Objective. The aim of the study was recognition of the level of knowledge concerning prevention of blood-borne infectious diseases among Master's degree students of nursing. Material and Methods. The study was conducted in the second half of 2022 among 104 Master's degree students of nursing, who were educated at the Radom School in Radom, by the method of a diagnostic survey, using an author-constructed questionnaire. Results. The majority of the examined students (96.2%) knew what diseases are transmitted through blood. More than a half of respondents (63.5%) evaluated their level of knowledge about blood-borne diseases as mediocre, and 19.2% - as low. A part of respondents (67.3%) had knowledge that trace amounts of blood are enough to cause infection with blood-borne diseases. All students in the study knew the main methods of prevention of infections transmitted via blood, and the deficit of knowledge concerned proper use of personal protection equipment (5.8%) and the observance of the procedure to be followed in the event of occupational exposure (3.8%). A large group of respondents (82.7%-100.0%) knew various risk factors of infection with blood-borne diseases. The majority of respondents (88.5%) knew that there is an effective vaccine against hepatitis B, but 43.3% of the students in the study did not know the main symptoms of infection with HBV. Students most often knew (90.4%) how to diagnose infection with HCV - anti-HCV test for the presence of antibodies against hepatitis C virus in blood; however, 26.9% of respondents were not aware that there is no vaccine against hepatitis C. The majority of the examined students (84.7%) knew early symptoms of infection with HIV, while the remainder had a deficit of knowledge in this area. A large group of respondents (82.0%-94.0%) knew various risk factors of infection with HIV. Conclusions. Students of nursing should be motivated to expand their knowledge concerning prevention of blood-borne diseases, observance of the principles of personal protection, prevention of occupational exposure, and proper post-exposure prophylaxis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Bloodstream infections (BSI) and sepsis are important causes of hospitalization, loss of health, and death globally. Targetable risk factors need to be identified to improve prevention and treatment. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the association of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and risk of and mortality from BSI and sepsis in the general population during a 22-year period. Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study among participants in the population-based Norwegian HUNT Study, where 68,438 participated. The median follow-up time was 17.4 years. The exposures were estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and albumin–creatinine ratio (ACR) in urine. The outcomes were hazard ratios (HR) of hospital admission or death due to BSI or sepsis. The associations were adjusted for age, sex, diabetes, obesity, systolic blood pressure, smoking status, and cardiovascular disease. Results: Participants with eGFR < 30 ml/min/1.732 had HR 3.35 for BSI (95% confidence intervals (CI) 2.12–5.3) and HR 2.94 for sepsis (95% CI 1.82–4.8) compared to normal eGFR (≥ 90 ml/min/1.732). HRs of death from BSI and sepsis were 4.2 (95% CI 1.71–10.4) and 4.1 (95% CI 1.88–8.9), respectively. Participants with severely increased albuminuria (ACR > 30 mg/mmol) had HR 3.60 for BSI (95% CI 2.30–5.6) and 3.14 for sepsis (95% CI 1.94–5.1) compared to normal albumin excretion (ACR < 3 mg/mmol). HRs of death were 2.67 (95% CI 0.82–8.7) and 2.16 (95% CI 0.78–6.0), respectively. Conclusion: In this large population-based cohort study, CKD was clearly associated with an increased risk of BSI and sepsis and related death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundPersons who experience homelessness remain at increased risk for three viral blood-borne infections: human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV). We assessed the yield of testing and linkage to care programs targeting this population for these infections in the United States (US).MethodsWe searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central for peer-reviewed articles through August 27, 2020. Additionally, we searched the grey literature. Two individuals independently reviewed all relevant studies to check for eligibility and extracted data for each step in the care cascade. We used random-effects model to generate weighted pooled proportions to assess yield at each step. Cumulative proportions were calculated as products of adjacent-step pooled proportions. We quantitatively synthesized data from the studies that focused on non-drug injecting individuals.ResultsWe identified 24 studies published between 1996-2019 conducted in 19 US states. Seventeen studies screened for HIV, 12 for HCV, and two screened for HBV. For HIV, 72% of approached were recruited, 64% had valid results, 4% tested positive, 2% were given results, and 1% were referred and attended follow-up. Of positives, 25% were referred to treatment and started care. For HCV, 69% of approached were recruited, 63% had valid results, 16% tested positive, 14% were given results, and 3% attended follow-up. Of positives, 30% were referred for treatment and 19% started care. The yield at each care cascade step differs widely by recruitment strategy (for example, for HIV: 71.6% recruited of reached under service-based with zero yield under healthcare facility-based and outreach).ConclusionsA very large proportion of this population reached for HIV and HCV care were lost in the follow-up steps and never received treatment. Future programs should examine drop-out reasons and intervene to reduce health disparities in this population.

Abstract Background This study aimed to synthetize the evidence on the effectiveness of harm minimization interventions on reducing blood-borne infection transmission and injecting behaviors among people who inject drugs (PWID) through a comprehensive overview of systematic reviews and evidence gap mapping. Methods A systematic review was conducted with searches in PubMed and Scopus to identify systematic reviews assessing the impact of interventions aimed at reducing the harms associated with injectable drug use. The overall characteristics of the studies were extracted and their methodological quality was assessed using AMSTAR-2. An evidence gap map was constructed, highlighting the most frequently reported outcomes by intervention (CRD42023387713). Results Thirty-three systematic reviews were included. Of these, 14 (42.2%) assessed the impact of needle/syringe exchange programs (NSEP) and 11 (33.3%) examined opioid agonist therapy (OAT). These interventions are likely to be associated with reductions of HIV/HCV incidence (10–40% risk reduction for NSEP; 50–60% for OAT) and sharing injecting paraphernalia (50% for NSEP, 25–85% for OAT), particularly when combined (moderate evidence). Behavioral/educational interventions were assessed in 12 reviews (36.4%) with most authors in favor/partially in favor of the use of these approaches (moderate evidence). Take-home naloxone programs and supervised-injection facilities were each assessed in two studies (6.1%), which reported inconclusive results (limited/inconsistent evidence). Most authors reported high levels of heterogeneity and risk of bias. Other interventions and outcomes were inadequately reported. Most systematic reviews presented low or critically low quality. Conclusion The evidence is sufficient to support the effectiveness of OAT, NSEP and their combination in reducing blood-borne infection transmission and certain injecting behaviors among PWID. However, evidence of other harm minimizations interventions in different settings and for some outcomes remain insufficient.

Background: This study aimed to synthetize the evidence on the effectiveness of harm minimization interventions on reducing blood-borne infection transmission and injecting behaviors among people who inject drugs (PWID) through a comprehensive overview of systematic reviews and evidence gap mapping. Methods: A systematic review was conducted with searches in PubMed and Scopus to identify systematic reviews assessing the impact of interventions aimed at reducing the harms associated with injectable drug use. The overall characteristics of the studies were extracted and their methodological quality was assessed using AMSTAR-2. An evidence gap map was constructed, highlighting the most frequently reported outcomes by intervention (CRD42023387713). Results: Thirty-three systematic reviews were included. Of these, 14 (42.2%) assessed the impact of needle/syringe exchange programs (NSEP) and 11 (33.3%) examined opioid agonist therapy (OAT). These interventions are likely to be associated with reductions of HIV/HCV incidence (10–40% risk reduction for NSEP; 50–60% for OAT) and sharing injecting paraphernalia (50% for NSEP, 25–85% for OAT), particularly when combined (moderate evidence). Behavioral/educational interventions were assessed in 12 reviews (36.4%) with most authors in favor/partially in favor of the use of these approaches (moderate evidence). Take-home naloxone programs and supervised-injection facilities were each assessed in two studies (6.1%), which reported inconclusive results (limited/inconsistent evidence). Most authors reported high levels of heterogeneity and risk of bias. Other interventions and outcomes were inadequately reported. Most systematic reviews presented low or critically low quality. Conclusion: The evidence is sufficient to support the effectiveness of OAT, NSEP and their combination in reducing blood-borne infection transmission and certain injecting behaviors among PWID. However, evidence of other harm minimizations interventions in different settings and for some outcomes remain insufficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Blood-borne infections are a serious problem among medical staff, especially nursing staff, because nurses have the most frequent contact with patients. As future employees of health care, students of nursing are exposed to a number of hazardous factors. Work with patients of unknown serological status (during practical classes and apprenticeships) is associated with the risk of infection with various pathogens. Objective. The aim of the study was recognition of the level of knowledge concerning prevention of blood-borne infectious diseases among Master’s degree students of nursing. Material and Methods. The study was conducted in the second half of 2022 among 104 Master’s degree students of nursing, who were educated at the Radom School in Radom, by the method of a diagnostic survey, using an author-constructed questionnaire. Results. The majority of the examined students (96.2%) knew what diseases are transmitted through blood. More than a half of respondents (63.5%) evaluated their level of knowledge about blood-borne diseases as mediocre, and 19.2% - as low. A part of respondents (67.3%) had knowledge that trace amounts of blood are enough to cause infection with blood-borne diseases. All students in the study knew the main methods of prevention of infections transmitted via blood, and the deficit of knowledge concerned proper use of personal protection equipment (5.8%) and the observance of the procedure to be followed in the event of occupational exposure (3.8%). A large group of respondents (82.7%-100.0%) knew various risk factors of infection with blood-borne diseases. The majority of respondents (88.5%) knew that there is an effective vaccine against hepatitis B, but 43.3% of the students in the study did not know the main symptoms of infection with HBV. Students most often knew (90.4%) how to diagnose infection with HCV – anti-HCV test for the presence of antibodies against hepatitis C virus in blood; however, 26.9% of respondents were not aware that there is no vaccine against hepatitis C. The majority of the examined students (84.7%) knew early symptoms of infection with HIV, while the remainder had a deficit of knowledge in this area. A large group of respondents (82.0%-94.0%) knew various risk factors of infection with HIV. Conclusions. Students of nursing should be motivated to expand their knowledge concerning prevention of blood-borne diseases, observance of the principles of personal protection, prevention of occupational exposure, and proper post-exposure prophylaxis.

Abstract Background To prevent the transmission of blood-borne infections and reach the elimination of viral hepatitis by 2030, the World Health Organization (WHO) has set the goal to distribute 300 sterile needles and syringes each year per person who injects drugs (PWID). We aimed to assess drug paraphernalia distribution in Germany in 2021, including the WHO indicator, and to analyse changes to the distribution measured in 2018. Methods We conducted a repeated cross-sectional study of low-threshold drug services in Germany. We assessed type and quantity of distributed drug paraphernalia and the number of supplied PWID in 2021 using an online and paper-based questionnaire. We conducted a descriptive statistical analysis of data from 2021, assessed fulfillment of the WHO indicator and changes in services that participated 2021 and in the previous study 2018. Results Five hundred and eighty-nine of 1760 distributed questionnaires were returned in 2021. 204 drug services from 15 out of 16 federal states confirmed drug paraphernalia distribution, covering 20% of Germany’s rural and 51% of urban counties. 108 services had also participated in 2018. The most frequently distributed paraphernalia for injecting drug use in 2021 were syringes (97% of services), needles (96%) and vitamin C (90%). Pre-cut aluminium foil (79% of services) and pipes (28%) for inhaling, and sniff tubes (43%) for nasal use were distributed less frequently. We found a median reduction in distributed syringes by 18% and by 12% for needles compared to 2018. Of 15 states, two reached the 2030 WHO-target for needles and one for syringes. Conclusions The current national estimates and changes from 2018 to 2021 for drug paraphernalia distribution seem far from meeting the WHO target. Reasons could include a change in drug consumption behaviour towards less injecting use and more inhaling, and effects of the COVID-19 pandemic (supply difficulties, social distancing, lockdown, reduced opening hours of services). We observed pronounced regional differences in drug paraphernalia distribution. To close existing gaps, Germany should expand its drug paraphernalia distribution programmes and other harm reduction services, such as drug consumption rooms. Further investigation of determinants for adequate distribution is essential to reduce blood-borne infections in this key population.

Introduction: Hospitals are one of the most common organizations that are affected by the risk of transmission of various infections and occupational injury. As people who are in charge of taking care of patients, operating room staff are among the high-risk groups in terms of contracting blood-borne diseases. The present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the effectiveness of participating in blood-borne infections training courses on the level of occupational exposure and knowledge of operating room personnel in hospitals. Materials and Methods: The current research was conducted on 198 operating room personnel in a cross-sectional manner in 2017. To collect data, a questionnaire was used to measure the level of awareness, attitude and performance of employees in the workplace. The questionnaire was given to the participants by available sampling method. after collecting it, it was analyzed in SPSS version 24 software. Results: The mean and standard deviation of the knowledge score was 6.63±1.38 out of 10, which indicated the unfavorable knowledge of the personnel. In addition, 129 people (65.2%) of the participants had a history of occupational exposure to blood-borne infections. Conclusion: In this study, most of the people had received the relevant trainings, but the knowledge of the people was not at an optimal level and the level of exposure among the personnel was also reported to be high. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the occupational exposure system and ultimately reduce the risk of transmission of blood-borne infections with more effective training and regular monitoring.

The purpose of systematic review was to assess the incidence of blood-borne infections in oncohematological patients in the period from 1980 to 2020 in different countries of the world, including in main oncohematological clinical groups of patients, assessment of the dynamics of the prevalence of blood-borne infections in the high-risk group after implementation of blood transfusion safety measures. An analysis of the data of the systematic review showed a high incidence of patients with oncohematological diseases in the period from 1980 to 2020: HCV – 8.2%, HBV (total markers) – 14.7% (HBsAg – 10.8%), HIV – 0.4 %. Middle levels of HCV and HBV infection in patients in the period from 2009 to 2017 exceeded the infection levels of the population in 2015 by 3.9 and 1.6 times, respectively. The prevalence of HIV was 1.16 times lower. According to the data of individual countries, the incidence of HCV among oncohematological patients is 1.3-118 times higher than the population, HBV – 0.4-73.5 times. The prevalence of HBsAg among children with oncohematological diseases was 18.3% and exceeded the same level among adult patients (7.1%) by 2.6 times. The prevalence of HBsAg among children with oncohematological diseases before 2000 was 14.8% and exceeded the prevalence of HBsAg among the child population before 2000 by 3 times, after 2000 – 20.5% and exceeded that among the child population by 16 times. The introduction of screening of blood donors has significantly reduced the incidence of patients at risk. Prior to the introduction of screening, the level of HCV infection among oncohematological patients was 35.7%, after the introduction of screening it was 5.2%, which is 7 times less. The level of HBV infection in the pre-screening period was 41.3%, after the introduction of screening – 5.9%, which is also 7 times less. During the course of treatment of oncohematological diseases or after its completion, the infection of patients with HCV is 7.7 times higher, HBV – 4.2 times higher, compared with infection at the stage of diagnosis or start of treatment. The level of HCV and HBV infection in patients with hematological malignancies exceeded that in patients with solid tumors by 1.8 times, both in the case of HCV and HBV. The conducted analysis emphasizes the urgency of the problem of nosocomial transmission of blood-borne infections, which is actively realized among patients at risk.

Background. Healthcare workers (HCWs) are often exposed to contaminated blood and body fluids from infected patients. There is no research on blood-borne infection in Iraqi Kurdistan; therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of blood-borne infections of hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and their associated risk factors among HCWs in the hospital. Material and methods. This cross-sectional study included 800 HCWs from a major tertiary teaching hospital, who were selected using a non-random technique. Results. The mean age of the HCWs was 35.15 years (range: 18-70 years), consisting of males (56.0%) and females (44.0%) from various specialties and different departments. The seroprevalence of HBV was 0.75% (n=6) among HCWs. However, the seroprevalence of HBV was not significantly different among HCWs with different characteristics. Only one HCW had a positive result for HCV (0.13%), while no HCWs were found to have HIV. The study showed that 34.63% had experienced needlestick injuries, and 64.88% had received the HBV vaccination. Additionally, 27.20% were smokers, and 1.42% were alcohol consumers. Other characteristics included previous hospitalization (17.28%), a history of blood transfusion (6.23%), a history of surgical operations (27.48%), and a history of dental interventions (86.69%). Conclusions. The study revealed a low seroprevalence of HBV and HCV among HCWs. No active HIV infection and almost none of them had contact with HCV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To prevent the transmission of blood-borne infections and reach the elimination of viral hepatitis by 2030, the World Health Organization (WHO) has set the goal to distribute 300 sterile needles and syringes each year per person who injects drugs (PWID). We aimed to assess drug paraphernalia distribution in Germany in 2021, including the WHO indicator, and to analyse changes to the distribution measured in 2018. Methods: We conducted a repeated cross-sectional study of low-threshold drug services in Germany. We assessed type and quantity of distributed drug paraphernalia and the number of supplied PWID in 2021 using an online and paper-based questionnaire. We conducted a descriptive statistical analysis of data from 2021, assessed fulfillment of the WHO indicator and changes in services that participated 2021 and in the previous study 2018. Results: Five hundred and eighty-nine of 1760 distributed questionnaires were returned in 2021. 204 drug services from 15 out of 16 federal states confirmed drug paraphernalia distribution, covering 20% of Germany's rural and 51% of urban counties. 108 services had also participated in 2018. The most frequently distributed paraphernalia for injecting drug use in 2021 were syringes (97% of services), needles (96%) and vitamin C (90%). Pre-cut aluminium foil (79% of services) and pipes (28%) for inhaling, and sniff tubes (43%) for nasal use were distributed less frequently. We found a median reduction in distributed syringes by 18% and by 12% for needles compared to 2018. Of 15 states, two reached the 2030 WHO-target for needles and one for syringes. Conclusions: The current national estimates and changes from 2018 to 2021 for drug paraphernalia distribution seem far from meeting the WHO target. Reasons could include a change in drug consumption behaviour towards less injecting use and more inhaling, and effects of the COVID-19 pandemic (supply difficulties, social distancing, lockdown, reduced opening hours of services). We observed pronounced regional differences in drug paraphernalia distribution. To close existing gaps, Germany should expand its drug paraphernalia distribution programmes and other harm reduction services, such as drug consumption rooms. Further investigation of determinants for adequate distribution is essential to reduce blood-borne infections in this key population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an urgent need for innovative methods to reduce transmission of bloodborne pathogens like HIV and HCV among people who inject drugs (PWID). We investigate if PWID who acquire non-pathogenic bloodborne viruses like anelloviruses and pegiviruses might be at greater risk of acquiring a bloodborne pathogen. PWID who later acquire HCV accumulate more non-pathogenic viruses in plasma than matched controls who do not acquire HCV infection. Additionally, phylogenetic analysis of those non-pathogenic virus sequences reveals drug use networks. Here we find first in Baltimore and confirm in San Francisco that the accumulation of non-pathogenic viruses in PWID is a harbinger for subsequent acquisition of pathogenic viruses, knowledge that may guide the prioritization of the public health resources to combat HIV and HCV.

Introduction: In developing countries, nosocomial transmission of blood borne infection is terrific hinderance, largely due to reduced resources, limited education on infection control and fewer enforcement structures. Aims: The present study aimed to provide information on the level of awareness, knowledge, and attitude among medical and paramedical students as well as the health care workers about blood borne infections. Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study included a total of 449 participants. Out of which 177 (39.42%) were medical students, 103 (22.94%) were paramedical students and 169 (37.64%) were health care workers of tertiary care hospital, Anand. Pre-validated Google form questionnaire consisting of three sections were used to assess the knowledge and awareness about blood borne infections. Result: The results of present study shows that the knowledge and awareness regarding section I (General precautions to be taken) and section II (mode of transmission, signs, and symptoms) were statistically significant (p value: 0.000) and very poor hence need more educational programs to be conducted to increase the level of significance. Conclusion: The present study concludes the need of the educational programs on universal precaution to increase awareness and also to build up positive attitude towards blood borne infections. It will help in reducing the risk of transmission in the students as well as healthcare professionals and will improve knowledge, skills, and competency in treating infected patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

UNLABELLED: Risk assessments of transfusion-transmitted emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) are complicated by the fact that blood donors demographics and behaviors can be different from the general population. Therefore, when assessing potential blood donor exposure to EIDs, the use of general population characteristics, such as U.S. travel statistics, may invoke uncertainties that result in inaccurate estimates of blood donor exposure. This may, in turn, lead to the creation of donor deferral policies that do not match actual risk. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This article reports on the development of a system to rapidly assess EID risks for a nationally representative portion of the U.S. blood donor population. To assess the effectiveness of this system, a test survey was developed and deployed to a statistically representative sample frame of blood donors from five blood collecting organizations. Donors were directed to an online survey to ascertain their recent travel and potential exposure to Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). RESULTS: A total of 7128 responses were received from 54 256 invitations. The age-adjusted estimated total number of blood donors potentially exposed to MERS-CoV was approximately 15 640 blood donors compared to a lower U.S. general population-based estimate of 9610 blood donors. CONCLUSION: The structured donor demographic sample-based data provided an assessment of blood donors potential exposure to an emerging pathogen that was 63% larger than the U.S. population-based estimate. This illustrates the need for tailored blood donor-based EID risk assessments that provide more specific demographic risk intelligence and can inform appropriate regulatory decision making.

Objective: To compare the clinical characteristics of hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HBV group) and C virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCV group). Methods: By a single century, we analyzed the clinical characteristics of 23 patients with hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HBV group) and 34 with hepatitis C virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCV group). Results: The patients in the HBV group (mean age 61.1 year) were about 6 years younger than those in the HCV group (mean age 67.1 year). Liver function, as measured by indocyanine green retention at 15 min, was better in the HBV group (17.5 %) than in the HCV group (25.4 %). A higher proportion of the HBV group (55 %) than the HCV group (44 %) had clinical stage I. T-factor differed significantly between the groups: 53 % of the HBV group were T3 - 4 compared with 41 % of the HCV group. Furthermore, a higher proportion of the HBV group was graded 2 - 3 for tumor thrombus in the portal vein (20.3 %) and had poorly differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma (7 %) compared with the HCV group (7.1 % and 5 % respectively). Univariate analysis identified poor prognostic factors for hepatocellular carcinoma as HBV, age < or = 50 year, clinical stage II-III, a high AFP level, higher number of tumors, larger tumor size, tumor thrombus in the portal vein 2 - 3 and in the hepatic vein 2 - 3. On multivariate analysis, poor prognostic factors were a high AFP level, a higher number of tumors, and tumor thrombus in the portal vein 2 - 3 and in the hepatic vein 2 - 3, but not HBV, age, clinical stage, or tumor size. In the multiple logistic regression models on the hepatitis infection, the OR for ASAT was 2.01 (95 % CI 1.41 - 6.91), statistically significant (p < 0.05). Conclusion: These results suggest that HBV itself is not a stronger prognostic factor than HCV.

Introduction: Medical students are exposed to blood and body fluids during their clinical training which increased the risk of transmission of blood-borne infections. The objective of the study is to assess the prevalence, knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding sharp injuries among final medical students of the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka Methods: A survey was done among 210 final-year medical students of the University of Peradeniya with a self-administered online questionnaire including demographic information, experience, knowledge and reporting behavior following sharp injuries. Results: Response rate was 80% (n=168). Sharp injuries were experienced by 22.6%. Most of the sharp injuries were sustained during venepuncture (39.5%). The majority (58.9%) did not adhere to universal precautions as they did not anticipate the event. One-third of the students (31.6%) did not know about universal precautions. Most of the students (68.4%) who had a sharp injury did not seek post-exposure assistance or prophylaxis. The majority of this group thought there is no risk (64%). Twenty-five students have not completed the full course of the hepatitis B vaccine. More than half (51.8%) of the fully vaccinated group were unaware of their immune status. The majority (67.3%) believed that their knowledge is not adequate regarding the prevention and management of needle stick injuries. The majority (97%) believed more emphasis should be given to knowledge and practice regarding sharp injuries. Conclusion: The knowledge, attitudes and practices of medical students regarding the prevention and management of sharp injuries were unsatisfactory. Poor awareness was observed regarding immune status following hepatitis B vaccination among medical students.

Objective: To determine the frequency and risk factors of bloodborne infectious diseases among informal solid waste handlers. Study Design: Cross-sectional Analytical study. Setting: Marghzar Colony, Lahore, Pakistan. Period: October to November 2019. Material & Methods: Convenience enrollment of 101 informal solid waste handlers out of total 150 invited subjects resulted in a response rate of 67.3%. A predesigned proforma was administered to collect demographic and clinical information. Whole blood specimen collected for subsequent screening of hepatitis B, hepatitis C & human immunodeficiency virus by rapid immunochromatographic test. Crosstabs analysis performed to calculate the odds ratios for bloodborne infectious diseases and chi square test used to find the association between risk factors and bloodborne infectious diseases. Results: Mean age of study population was 31.9±12.8 years. Participation of females 65.3% was higher than males 34.7%. Overall 4.0% frequency of bloodborne infectious diseases included 2.0% hepatitis B and 2.0% hepatitis C. None of the respondents had HIV or co-infection of hepatitis B and C. Frequency of those who collected waste from clinical sites was 6.0%, who received sharps injuries (100.0%), and who never used personal protective equipment (100.0%). Gender male [OR=6.094; 95.0% CI, 0.609-60.927], smoking [OR=5.056; 95.0% CI, 0.454-56.245], and waste collection from clinical site [OR=6.133; 95.0% CI, 0.537-70.057] showed a higher risk of bloodborne infectious diseases. Conclusion: The proportions of hepatitis, sharps injuries and not using personal protective equipment were high among informal solid waste handlers. Waste collection from clinical sites showed higher risk of occupational transmission of hepatitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and objective Studies on occupational exposure to adverse conditions usually focus on professional groups, such as doctors, nurses and laboratory workers. Researchers have also drawn attention to the dangers threatening paramedics while performing their duties. The aim of this study is to analyze the occupational exposure of paramedics to hepatitis B and C viruses, to identify the activities during which occupational exposure occurs most frequently, and to analyze the possibility of protecting a paramedic from occupational exposure to infection. Review methods The publication was prepared based on a literature review in available scientific information databases and on the websites of organizations operating in the field of public health. Brief description of the state of knowledge In 2018, in Poland, 3,196 cases of HBV infection and 3,442 of HCV infection were registered. At present, viral hepatitis is most epidemiologically important in the context of infections related to the provision of health services by paramedics. It has been estimated that in health care workers, HBV and HCV infections during occupational activities represent 37.6% and 39% of all infections, respectively. Observations of Polish researchers show that 24.1% of paramedics have experienced a sharp injury during 12 months of work. The study of knowledge concerning post-exposure management of potentially infectious material revealed that 32% of rescuers could not name more than one stage of action to prevent blood-borne infections. Summary Researchers highlight the lack of adequate knowledge of paramedics regarding blood-borne viruses and occupational exposure. Results and conclusions published to-date indicate local needs in health care facilities, but above all, they can be the basis for targeted systemic actions in the prevention of HBV and HCV infections.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the most common cause of acute viral hepatitis in England. Substantial yearly increases of autochthonous infections were observed during 2003–2016 and again during 2017–2019. Previous studies associated acute HEV cases with consumption of processed pork products, we investigated risk factors for autochthonous HEV infections in the blood donor population in England. Study participants were 117 HEV RNA–positive blood donors and 564 HEV RNA–negative blood donors. No persons with positive results were vegetarian; 97.4% of persons with positive results reported eating pork products. Consuming bacon (OR 3.0, 95% CI 1.7–5.5; p

Data are lacking or outdated on burden of HIV, viral hepatitis infection, and sexually transmitted infections such as syphilis among people deprived of liberty in the Asia-Pacific region. We aimed to evaluate the proportion of viral hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV), HIV, and syphilis infections, and factors associated with HCV, HBV, and HIV infection in a central male prison. A cross-sectional study was performed among 1,028 people deprived of liberty from a central male prison in Bangkok, Thailand. People deprived of liberty were screened for HIV, HBV, HCV, and syphilis infections during 2018–2019. HBV and HCV were defined as positive hepatitis B surface antigen and positive anti-HCV antibody, respectively. Proportions (95% confidence interval [CI]) of infections were calculated based on the binomial distribution. HBV proportion was reported for different age groups. Risk factors associated with HCV infections were evaluated by logistic regression model. The median age was 38 (interquartile range, 32–50) years, and 6.9% reported use of injection drugs. The proportion of HIV, HBV, anti-HCV, HCV RNA, and syphilis was 2.9% (95% CI, 1.9–4.1), 6.4% (5–8.1), 5.9% (4.6–7.6), 4.2% (3–5.6), and 4.8% (3.5–6.3), respectively. One (0.1%), 7 (0.6%), and 2 (3%) were co-infected with HIV/HBV, HIV/HCV, and HDV/HBV, respectively. HBV proportion differed across age groups: 3.7% in <30 years, 7% in 31–40 years, 9.7% in 41–50 years, and 5.5% in >50 years. Factors associated with HCV infection were older age, lower education level, previous incarceration, and injection drug use. In multivariable models, older age was associated with HBV infection, and men having sex with men was associated with HIV infection. The proportion of blood-borne infections was higher among males than among the general population. HBV vaccination, routine HCV screening, and treatment with pan-genotypic direct-acting antivirals with minimal specialist requirements should be implemented in Thai prisons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Workplace safety and health are significant public health concerns for maintaining a low-risk environment. In Africa and Ghana, most mortuaries are not well resourced, nor do they follow universal standard precautions for infection prevention. As a result, mortuary attendants are exposed to numerous biological hazards that threaten their health and well-being, and cause anxiety about contracting infectious diseases while attending to corpses.Objectives: To explore the biological hazards faced by mortuary attendants in Ghana in three selected regions.Methods: A qualitative research approach was used, together with an exploratory, descriptive design. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to investigate the biological hazards faced by mortuary attendants. Purposive sampling was used, and saturation was reached with 19 participants.Results: Most mortuary attendants reported exposure to infections through direct contact with bodily fluids. In addition, exposure to potentially contaminated syringes and needles, non-adherence to universal standard precautions for corpse handling, and the poor condition of storage systems and the work environment increase the risk of infection.Conclusion and Recommendations: Mortuary attendants are exposed to biological hazards such as human immunodeficiency virus and other blood-borne diseases, making them hesitant to work and affecting their concentration. This study recommends the urgent provision of functioning cold rooms to preserve the integrity of corpses, personal protective equipment, and adequate training of mortuary attendants on universal standard precautions to improve working environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of blood transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs), among blood donors in Pakistan, specifically HIV, hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), syphilis, and malaria. Methods: Data records of all registered blood donors (n = 120 968) during 2008–2019, at a blood transfusion center in a tertiary care hospital were assessed. Frequency of the seropositive donors for HIV, HCV, HBV, syphilis, and malaria was analyzed. Results: The overall age range of the donors was 25–65 years. Nearly all were male (99.0%). HCV, syphilis, and malaria were more prevalent among those aged 26–35 years. Most donors (81.1%) were residents of Islamabad city. The infection with the highest prevalence among the screened blood donors was HCV (1.5%; 95% CI: 0.423–0.661) followed by syphilis (0.8%; 95% CI: 1.149–1.432). HCV and syphilis were most frequently observed in blood group B positive (B+) donors while HIV was more common in those who were O+. The frequency of co-infection of syphilis with HCV and HIV was 0.02% and 0.01%, respectively. Conclusions: Among male blood donors, the most prevalent TTI infection was HCV followed by HIV; the latter is on the rise. HCV and syphilis are the most frequent co-infections.

Abstract Background People who use drugs (PWUD) are considered as one of the main at-risk populations for Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. We conducted a systematic review on the prevalence of HBV infection among PWUD in Iran. Methods Consistent with PRISMA guideline, international (Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, and Embase) and national (Scientific Information Database) databases were searched using a comprehensive search strategy up to September 2019. The retrieved records were reviewed, and experts were contacted for unpublished studies. Studies on Iranian PWUD reporting HBV surface Antigen (HBsAg) prevalence among people who inject drugs (PWID) and non-injecting PWUD were included. HBsAg prevalence was pooled for PWID and non-injecting PWUD and for other subgroups using random-effects model meta-analysis. The trend of HBV prevalence over time was investigated using meta-regression analysis. Results Overall, 35 studies reported data on HBV infection among PWID (33 studies) and non-injecting PWUD (11 studies). The pooled prevalence of HBsAg among PWID was 4.8% (95% CI 3.7–6.2). The only risk factor significantly associated with the odds of positive HBsAg in PWID was the previous history of imprisonment (OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.29–2.30, p value = 0.000). The pooled estimate of HBsAg among non-injecting PWUD was 2.9% (95% CI 2.5–3.2). Time trend analyses showed significant decrease in HBV prevalence among PWID reaching from 8.2% (95% CI 3.9–16.5) in 2004–2006 to 3.1% (95% CI 2.3–4.1) in 2016 and later (b = -0.07; p value = 0.05). No significant trend was detected for non-injecting PWUD. Conclusion The prevalence of HBV infection among non-injecting PWUD and even PWID was not considerably higher than the Iranian general population. This might be the result of extensive harm reduction interventions in Iran. However, it seems that there are subgroups of PWID, who do not adequately benefit from existing harm reduction interventions. Future programs should more specifically target these high-risk groups.

Background: Unsafe injection is an important cause of transmitting blood-borne infections such as hepatitis B virus, human immunodeficiency virus, and hepatitis C virus. In a country-like India, health system usually suffers from the paucity of workforce and nursing personnel are the most susceptible to unsafe injection and needle stick injury. Aim: The present study was carried out with the aim to assess the knowledge and skills among nursing personnel regarding safe injection practices and to measure the change following training session. Materials and Methods: This was a hospital-based cross-sectional study, included all 230 nursing personnel those who were currently working in the hospital. A pretested, predesigned, standardized questionnaire was used. Everyday activity of the study was divided into three parts. First part of activity included pretest second part of activity consisted of 3–4 h training session and third part was posttest. The collected data were tabulated and analyzed using the SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 22.0. Results: Nearly 52.9% of the participants were aware of diseases transmitted through unsafe injection and 45.5% of participants were aware about appropriate sharp waste disposal. Only 20.6% of participants wore gloves before injection administration, and 56.1% used needle destroyer for disposing off the needles. Conclusion: Periodic reinforcement of the nursing personnel with hands on training sessions is the need of the hour to protect them from needle stick injuries and prevent the spread of blood borne pathogens in public at large.

Background and Objectives: Nucleic acid-amplification testing (NAT) is used for screening blood donations/donors for blood-borne viruses. We reviewed global viral NAT characteristics and NAT-yield confirmatory testing used by blood operators., Materials and Methods: NAT characteristics and NAT-yield confirmatory testing used during 2019 was surveyed internationally by the International Society of Blood Transfusion Working Party Transfusion-Transmitted Infectious Diseases. Reported characteristics are presented herein., Results: NAT was mainly performed under government mandate. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) NAT was performed on all donors and donation types, while selective testing was reported for West Nile virus, hepatitis E virus (HEV), and Zika virus. Individual donation NAT was used for HIV, HCV and HBV by ~50% of responders, while HEV was screened in mini-pools by 83% of responders performing HEV NAT. Confirmatory testing for NAT-yield samples was generally performed by NAT on a sample from the same donation or by NAT and serology on samples from the same donation and a follow-up sample., Conclusion: In the last decade, there has been a trend towards use of smaller pool sizes or individual donation NAT. We captured characteristics of NAT internationally in 2019 and provide insights into confirmatory testing approaches used for NAT-yields, potentially benefitting blood operators seeking to implement NAT., (© 2024 The Authors. Vox Sanguinis published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Blood Transfusion.)

Illicit drug and alcohol abuse have significant negative consequences for individuals who inject drugs/use drugs (PWID/UDs), including decreased immune system function and increased viral pathogenesis. PWID/UDs are at high risk of contracting or transmitting viral illnesses such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV). In South Africa, a dangerous drug-taking method known as "Bluetoothing" has emerged among nyaope users, whereby the users of this drug, after injecting, withdraw blood from their veins and then reinject it into another user. Hence, the transmission of blood-borne viruses (BBVs) is exacerbated by this "Bluetooth" practice among nyaope users. Moreover, several substances of abuse promote HIV, HBV, and HCV replication. With a specific focus on the nyaope drug, viral replication, and transmission, we address the important influence of abused addictive substances and polysubstance use in this review.

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Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the most common cause of acute viral hepatitis in England. Substantial yearly increases of autochthonous infections were observed during 2003-2016 and again during 2017-2019. Previous studies associated acute HEV cases with consumption of processed pork products, we investigated risk factors for autochthonous HEV infections in the blood donor population in England. Study participants were 117 HEV RNA-positive blood donors and 564 HEV RNA-negative blood donors. No persons with positive results were vegetarian; 97.4% of persons with positive results reported eating pork products. Consuming bacon (OR 3.0, 95% CI 1.7-5.5; p<0.0001), cured pork meats (OR 3.5, 95% CI 2.2-5.4; p<0.0001), and pigs' liver (OR 2.9, 95% CI 1.0-8.3; p = 0.04) were significantly associated with HEV infection. Our findings confirm previous links to pork products and suggest that appropriate animal husbandry is essential to reduce the risk for HEV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Medical tourism has been increasing dramatically globally, with people travelling from developed countries to low-income or middle-income countries, often to avoid high costs or long delays associated with seeking healthcare in their countries of origin. The current review summarizes healthcare-related infections associated with medical tourism, focusing on cosmetic surgery and organ transplantation.Methods: A systematic MEDLINE and PubMed search from January 2010 to December 2019 yielded 80 relevant articles, including 49 articles on medical tourism-related infections focusing on cosmetic surgery and organ transplantation, which were included in this reviews.Results: The literature reveals specific types of cross-border, healthcare-related infections depending on medical intervention. Destinations include low-income countries such as countries of Asia and the Indian subcontinent, middle-income countries including Central and South America, and high-income countries such as the United States and Europe. In terms of type of infections, in 36 (68%) and 15 (28.3%) studies, wound and blood-borne infections were documented, respectively, while in 21 studies (58.3%) non-tuberculous mycobacteria were isolated, including Mycobacterium abscessus, Mycobacterium chelonae, Mycobacterium senegalense and Mycobacterium fortuitum. The choices of medical tourists could have significant consequences for them and their home countries, including infectious complications and importation of pathogens, particularly antibiotic-resistant microorganisms, with public health implications.Conclusions: There is a need for public health strategies in order to prevent morbidity and mortality as well as future management and education of patients engaging in medical tourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite the availability of a safe and effective vaccine coupled with the awareness of the potential risk of Healthcare Workers acquiring Hepatitis B Virus infection, some HCWs never get vaccinated. Generally, hepatitis B vaccination coverage globally is below the expected level as adherence has remained poor in various healthcare settings, especially in developing countries. The objective of this study was to assess the completion of a three-dose Hepatitis B virus vaccination cycle and associated factors among healthcare workers in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana., Methods and Materials: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted and included 363 healthcare workers selected using probability sampling procedures. The participants were recruited from five facilities within the Greater Accra Region in the first half of 2018. A pretested questionnaire was used to collect data which was analyzed using SPSS version 21. The proportion of healthcare workers receiving the recommended 3 doses of the hepatitis vaccine was computed. The multivariable analysis procedure identified the factors associated with adherence to the receipt of three doses of the hepatitis B vaccine. Odds ratios were estimated with corresponding confidence intervals with the level of significance set at 0.05., Results: A total of 340 sample units were included in the analysis. Most of the participants (252/340, 74.1%) were females, mainly nurses/midwives (162/340, 47.6%) with a mean age of 34.5 (SD ±7.7). A high proportion of the participants (82.7%) have tertiary/post-tertiary level education and ever participated in at least one training workshop on the prevention of blood-borne infections (80.6%). Overall vaccination uptake was 60.9% (207/340) (95% CI = 55.7%-66.1%). Complete vaccination coverage (three doses) was 46.8% (159/340). High-risk perception (AOR = 4.0; 95% CI = 1.3-12.5), and previous training in infection prevention (AOR = 2.8; 95% CI = 1.1-7.5) were significantly associated with adherence to receipt of three doses of hepatitis B vaccine., Conclusion: Adherence to three-dose hepatitis B vaccination cycles is not universal among the healthcare workers in the Greater Accra Region. Receipt of the three-dose regimen is significantly associated with high-risk perception and attendance of training in infectious disease prevention. Interventions to increase risk perception and training in the prevention of blood-borne infections could improve adherence to complete/full vaccination protocol among healthcare workers who are at constant risk of exposure to the hepatitis B virus., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no completing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Senoo-Dogbey et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Background: The Hajj is one of the world's largest pilgrimage and gathers millions of Muslims from different nationalities every year. Communicable diseases have been reported frequently, during and following the Hajj, and these have been linked to individual behavioural measures. This study aimed to measure the effect of personal preventive measures, such as face mask use, hand hygiene and others, adopted by pilgrims in reducing the acquisition of infectious diseases.Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study at the Hajj terminal in King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Pilgrims were approached in the airport lounges after the 2017 Hajj season and prior to the departure of their flights from Jeddah to their home countries. An electronic data collection tool ('Open Data Kit') was used to gather survey data in regards to health problems and preventive measures during the Hajj.Results: A total of 2973 Hajj pilgrims were surveyed. In all, 38.7% reported symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) and 5.4% reported symptoms of travel diarrhoea. Compliance with face mask use was 50.2%. Changing a face mask every 4 h was found to be significantly associated with lower prevalence of URTIs [adjusted odds ratio 0.56 (95% confidence interval 0.34-0.92), P = 0.02]. There was no statistical difference between overall face mask use and URTI acquisition. The main sources of food, eating raw vegetables/food, frequency of hand washing or use of hand sanitizers were not found to be significantly associated with reported travellers' diarrhoea. Unlicensed barbers were used by 12% of pilgrims and 9.2% of pilgrims reported using blades that were reused by other pilgrims.Conclusion: Preventive measures are the most effective way to prevent infections. Pilgrims can benefit from face masks by changing them frequently. There is still limited information on the effect of the use of face mask in decreasing the risk of URTI in mass gatherings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infections are blood-borne, generally chronic and are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study is to describe the results of therapies with direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) in healthcare personnel. Methods Secondary data analysis using data from the Statutory Accident Insurance of the Health and Welfare Service. The study surveyed DAA therapies administered to insured parties (healthcare personnel with an HCV infection recognised as an occupational disease) in Germany between 01/01/2014 and 30/11/2016. The end points were results of monitorings carried out twelve weeks after the end of treatment (SVR12), side effects and the results of the assessment of reduced work ability after treatment. Multivariate logistic regression models were constructed to model SVR12. Results The study population (n = 180) comprised 74% women, 90% of the participants had an HCV genotype 1 infection. Two-thirds had fibrosis or cirrhosis and were treatment experienced. The most common combined therapy was ledipasvir and sofosbuvir (49%). A DAA therapy with ribavirin was administered in 20% of cases, with (pegylated) interferon and ribavirin used in 2% of cases. The majority of therapies were completed without any side effects. The overall SVR12 rate was 94%. Significant independent predictor of decrease odds of SVR12 was liver cirrhosis. Positive effects on the healthcare personnel’s work ability were observed after successful therapy. Conclusion High SVR12 rates were achieved in the sample population, with positive effects on their work ability. Early HCV therapy seems reasonable due to the increased chance of successful treatment of the infection.

Background Unsafe injection practices contribute to increased risks of blood-borne infections, including human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of medical injections as well as assess the level of access to sterile injection equipment by demographic factors in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Methods We carried out a meta-analysis of nationally representative Demographic and Health Surveys (DHSs) conducted between 2010 and 2017 in 39 LMICs. Random effects meta-analysis was used in estimating pooled and disaggregated prevalence. All analyses were conducted using Stata version 14 and Microsoft Excel 2016. Results The pooled 12-month prevalence estimate of medical injection was 32.4% (95% confidence interval 29.3–35.6). Pakistan, Rwanda and Myanmar had the highest prevalence of medical injection: 59.1%, 56.4% and 53.0%, respectively. Regionally, the prevalence of medical injection ranged from 13.5% in west Asia to 42.7% in south and southeast Asia. The pooled prevalence of access to sterile injection equipment was 96.5%, with Pakistan, Comoros and Afghanistan having comparatively less prevalence: 86.0%, 90.3% and 90.9%, respectively. Conclusions Overuse of medical injection and potentially unsafe injection practices remain a considerable challenge in LMICs. To stem the tides of these challenges, national governments of LMICs need to initiate appropriate interventions, including education of stakeholders, and equity in access to quality healthcare services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Unsafe injection is an important cause of transmitting blood-borne infections such as hepatitis B virus, human immunodeficiency virus, and hepatitis C virus. In a country-like India, health system usually suffers from the paucity of workforce and nursing personnel are the most susceptible to unsafe injection and needle stick injury. Aim: The present study was carried out with the aim to assess the knowledge and skills among nursing personnel regarding safe injection practices and to measure the change following training session. Materials and Methods: This was a hospital-based cross-sectional study, included all 230 nursing personnel those who were currently working in the hospital. A pretested, predesigned, standardized questionnaire was used. Everyday activity of the study was divided into three parts. First part of activity included pretest second part of activity consisted of 3–4 h training session and third part was posttest. The collected data were tabulated and analyzed using the SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 22.0. Results: Nearly 52.9% of the participants were aware of diseases transmitted through unsafe injection and 45.5% of participants were aware about appropriate sharp waste disposal. Only 20.6% of participants wore gloves before injection administration, and 56.1% used needle destroyer for disposing off the needles. Conclusion: Periodic reinforcement of the nursing personnel with hands on training sessions is the need of the hour to protect them from needle stick injuries and prevent the spread of blood borne pathogens in public at large. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article summarizes the experience in developing, implementing and effectiveness evaluating of the sexually transmitted infection prevention program in the subpopulation of injecting drug users in St. Petersburg, Russia. The preventive intervention was aimed to correct behaviors leading to infection and was based on a multidisciplinary patient-centered approach. Long-term medical, social and psychological support of injecting drug users, combined with the group training sessions based on the peer-to-peer model has allowed to reduce their injecting and sexual risk, as well as to decrease the HIV infection incidence in the intervention group 1.84 times against the control group.

Background: Medical students are actively involved in direct patient care during their training and subsequent medical practice, making them susceptible to acquiring blood-borne pathogens, including HBV. This study aimed to assess the occurrence of blood-borne infections and the Hepatitis B immunization status among medical students. Furthermore, it sought to identify gaps in risk assessment for blood-borne pathogens among medical students at a Medical College in New Delhi., Methods: The study included 108 medical students who participated in a blood donation camp. Blood samples collected from these individuals underwent testing for blood-borne pathogens in accordance with standard screening protocols at the blood bank. The quantitative estimation was performed for anti-HBs IgG using ELISA., Results: All 108 participants were pursuing their undergraduate or postgraduate medical degrees. All students tested negative for HBsAg and HIV markers and showed no reactivity to Syphilis and Malaria. However, one student tested positive for HCV. Two postgraduate students had a history of needlestick injuries. Eighty-one (75%) students had received Hepatitis B vaccination. Among the vaccinated students, 34 (41.97%) were immunized before the age of five years, 22 (27.16%) after the age of five years, while 25 (30.86%) couldn't recall the exact age of their Hepatitis B vaccination. Protective anti-HBs titer of anti-Hepatitis B antibodies (>10 mIU/ml) were detected in 48.15% (52/108) of students., Conclusions: Over 50% of medical students did not possess sufficient immunity against HBV infection, putting them at a heightened risk of acquiring HBV during their active participation in patient care in the near future. It is imperative to establish a policy for routine anti-HBs titer assessment and ensure easy access to Hepatitis B immunization for medical students, thereby enhancing their protection against this infectious agent., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Indian Association of Medical Microbiologists. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

When children sustain injuries from needles discarded in public places, concerns arise about possible exposure to blood-borne viruses. The risk of infection is low, but assessment, counselling, and follow-up of the injured child are needed. This statement reviews the literature concerning blood-borne viral infections after injuries from needles discarded in the community, and provides recommendations for the prevention and management of such incidents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lorsqu'un enfant se blesse sur une aiguille abandonnée dans un lieu public, on craint qu'il ait été exposé à des virus à diffusion hématogène. Le risque d'infection est faible, mais il est impératif d'évaluer l'enfant blessé et d'offrir un accompagnement et un suivi. Le présent document de principes contient une analyse des publications sur les infections virales à diffusion hématogène après une blessure causée par une aiguille abandonnée dans un lieu public ainsi que des recommandations pour prévenir de tels incidents et les prendre en charge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]