Hepatitis B markers in Gloucestershire firemen

Occupational exposure to blood and body fluids and the prevalenceof serological markers of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infectionwere studied in Gloucestershire firemen to assess the occupationalrisk of HBV infection. A high compliance was achieved (472/503,94 per cent). Cumulative occupational exposure to blood or bodyfluids rose progressively to 68 per cent after 24 years' service.No sera were positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg).Six sera were positive for hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs)and were tested for hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc). Thefour subjects who were positive for anti-HBs alone had all receivedHBV vaccine. Two sera contained both anti-HBs and anti-HBc.Therefore, 2/472 firemen (0.42 per cent) showed evidence ofprevious HBV infection, a similar proportion to that found ina recent study in UK blood donors (0.49 per cent). Despite considerableexposure to blood and body fluids, an occupational risk of hepatitisB infection was not found in Gloucestershire firemen.