nowadays, the presence of hbv dna in the absence of hbsag; occult hepatitis b infection; (obi), is a known clinical entity along with the rapid influx of research being conducted on  its clinical relevance. biologists and clinicians alike have a recent-standing interest in this regards. obi has been described in several clinical settings. however, the data on its prevalence among immunized and ...

Copyright: © 2013. The Authors. Licensee: AOSIS OpenJournals. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License. Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is the most easily transmitted blood-borne pathogen and is an occupational hazard for health care workers (HCWs). Despite the fact that infection is preventable through vaccination and post-exposure immunoglobulin thera...

BACKGROUND Foot screening is an important part of diabetic care as it prevents significant morbidity, loss of function and mortality from diabetic foot complications. However, foot screening is often neglected. AIM This project was aimed at educating health care workers (HCWs) in a primary health care clinic to increase diabetic foot screening practices. SETTING A primary health care clinic...

OBJECTIVES In British Columbia (BC), Canada, all health care facilities must have a written staff policy on influenza immunization that includes notice that non-immunized staff can be excluded from work without pay during an influenza outbreak in the facility. In light of this policy, our objectives were to explore the views of BC health care workers (HCWs) regarding how best to promote vaccine...

background: hepatitis b virus (hbv) infection is an endemic infection in nigeria. health care workers (hcws) are at risk of occupational exposures to hbv-infected blood and body fluids. objective: to determine the prevalence and determinants of hbv vaccine coverage among hcws in two teaching hospitals in nigeria. methods: this cross-sectional study was undertaken in 2011 and 2012 in two teachin...

BACKGROUND The issue of stigma is very important in the battle against HIV/AIDS in Africa since it may affect patient attendance at healthcare centres for obtaining antiretroviral (ARV) medications and regular medical check-ups. Stigmatization creates an unnecessary culture of secrecy and silence based on ignorance and fear of victimization. This study was designed to determine if there is exte...

We tested the frequency of occult hepatitis B infection (OBI) among Egyptian healthcare workers (HCWs). We tested 132 HCWs for hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and hepatitis C virus antibody (anti-HCV) by ELISA. HCV RNA was measured by nested PCR in anti-HCV-positive HCWs. HBV-DNA-positive HCWs were subjected to HBV genotyping. We included 132 HCWs who were...

Background and Objectives Despite improvements in modern diagnosis and therapies, hospital acquired infections remain a leading problem of global health systems. Healthcare workers mobile phones is a reservoir for potential pathogens. Despite the high possibility of being contaminated, mobile phones are rarely clean and are often touched during or after examination of patients and handling of s...

OBJECTIVES In Chile, little information about the use of standard precautions (SP) among health care workers (HCWs) exists. As part of a larger study to tailor and test an HIV prevention intervention for community HCWs, this study describes the observed frequency with which appropriate SP were used by HCWs in low-income community clinics of Santiago. Also, the availability of supplies is descri...

Traditional complementary and alternative medicine (TCAM) has been reported to be commonly used among individuals with HIV and AIDS disease. However a lack of communication between health care workers (HCWs) and patients as well as between HCWs and TCAM practitioners has been identified as one of the challenges that may adversely affect treatment of HIV and AIDS patients. With improved and sust...