Anagaw Belay, Shiferaw Yitayal, Anagaw Berhanu, Belyhun Yeshambel, Erku Woldearegay, Biadgelegn Fantahun, Moges Beyene, Alemu Agersew, Moges Feleke, Mulu Andargachew
Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
BMC Res Notes. 2012 Jan 22;5:55. doi: 10.1186/1756-0500-5-55.
Viral hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver due to viral infections and there are groups of viruses that affects the liver of which hepatitis B and C viruses are the causative agents of sever form of liver disease with high rate of mortality. Medical waste handlers who undergo collection, transportation, and disposal of medical wastes in the health institutions are at risk of exposure to acquire those infections which transmit mainly as a result of contaminated blood and other body fluids including injury with sharp instruments, splash to the eye or mucous membrane. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B and/or C viruses and associated risk factors among medical waste handlers.
A cross-sectional study was conducted from April, 2011 to June, 2011 in government health institutions at Gondar town. Socio-demographic and possible risk factors data from medical waste handlers were collected using pre-tested and well structured questionnaires. Venous bloods were collected and the serums were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen and anti-hepatitis C antibody using rapid Immunochromatography assay. Data was entered and analyzed using SPSS software package (version16). Chi-square and Fisher exact tests were used to assess risk of association. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistical significance.A total of 100 medical waste handlers and 100 non-clinical waste handlers were examined for HBV and HCV viruses. HBV was detected in 6 (6.0%) and 1 (1.0%) and HCV in 1 (1.0%) and 0 (0.0%) of medical waste handlers and non-clinical waste handlers, respectively. Significant differences were observed in the detection rates of HBV (OR = 6.3; X2 = 4.1; P = 0.04) and overall infection rate (HBV + HCV) (OR = 7.5; X2 = 5.2; P: 0.02) in medical waste handlers when compared with non-clinical waste handlers. It was found that none of the observed risk factors significantly associated with rate of hepatitis infection compared to others.
Prevalence of HBV and HCV were significantly higher in medical waste in relation to non-clinical waste handlers. There were poor waste management system which contributed for occurrence of higher degree of sharps injury and blood and body fluids splash.
病毒性肝炎是由病毒感染引起的肝脏炎症，有多种病毒可影响肝脏，其中乙型肝炎病毒和丙型肝炎病毒是严重肝病的致病因素，死亡率很高。在医疗机构从事医疗废物收集、运输和处置的人员有接触感染这些病毒的风险，这些感染主要通过受污染的血液和其他体液传播，包括被锐器刺伤、溅入眼睛或黏膜。本研究旨在确定医疗废物处理人员中乙型肝炎病毒和/或丙型肝炎病毒的流行率及相关危险因素。
2011年4月至2011年6月在贡德尔镇的政府医疗机构进行了一项横断面研究。使用预先测试且结构良好的问卷收集医疗废物处理人员的社会人口统计学和可能的危险因素数据。采集静脉血，采用快速免疫层析法检测血清中的乙型肝炎表面抗原和抗丙型肝炎抗体。数据录入并使用SPSS软件包（版本16）进行分析。采用卡方检验和Fisher精确检验评估关联风险。p值<0.05被认为具有统计学意义。共对100名医疗废物处理人员和100名非临床废物处理人员进行了乙肝病毒和丙肝病毒检测。医疗废物处理人员中分别有6人（6.0%）和1人（1.0%）检测出乙肝病毒，非临床废物处理人员中分别有1人（1.0%）和0人（0.0%）检测出丙肝病毒。与非临床废物处理人员相比，医疗废物处理人员中乙肝病毒检测率（OR = 6.3；X2 = 4.1；P = 0.04）和总体感染率（乙肝病毒 + 丙肝病毒）（OR = 7.5；X2 = 5.2；P：0.02）存在显著差异。结果发现，与其他因素相比，所观察到的危险因素均与肝炎感染率无显著关联。
与非临床废物处理人员相比，医疗废物中乙肝病毒和丙肝病毒的流行率显著更高。存在不良的废物管理系统，这导致了更高程度的锐器伤以及血液和体液飞溅的发生。
