| Author | M Camilleri |
| Abstract | Acquiring an infectious disease is one of the biggest risks faced by drug users, especially intravenous drug users. In an effort to reduce this risk, vaccination against hepatitis B was offered to drug users making use of services offered at the Substance Misuse Treatment Unit (Sedqa) at St. Lukes Hospital (Malta). In a series of 228 patients who were offered vaccination against hepatitis B, 143 (62.7%) were given the full course. 91.6% of the vaccinated population were intravenous drug users or had a history of such mode of drug administration while 46.2% had previously tested positive for antibodies against the hepatitis C virus. 73.4% of patients receiving all three doses did so according to the recommended schedule (0, 1 month and 6 months) while 24.5% received the vaccination over a period of 12 months and another 3 over 14 months. 90 (62.9%) of those receiving the full vaccination course were tested for the development of seroprotection (anti HBs above 10 mIU/ml, claimed to be the minimum protective level). 83.3% of the 90 patients tested for the development of seroprotection had an anti HBs level of 10 mIU/ml or more. Only 31 patients from the 43 (72.1%) who were positive for hepatitis C virus antibodies developed seroprotection, while 41 from 44 (93.2%) patients who were negative for hepatitis C antibodies developed seroprotection. This confirms that drug users respond less well to hepatitis B vaccination than healthy adults and indicates that infection with the hepatitis C virus might be one of the factors contributing to an even less likelihood of developing seroprotection possibly due to altered immunity. |
Published in: | |
| Journal | Malta Medical Journal |
| Volume | 15 Issue 1-2/suppl. 2003 |
| Pages | - |
| Date | |
| Link to journal | |
| Key words | immune response, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, Sedqa |