Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona and Integrated University Hospital of Verona, Verona, Italy.
Service of Hygiene and Public Health, Territorial Department of Prevention of Verona, Verona, Italy.
Ann Ig. 2021 Nov-Dec;33(6):602-614. doi: 10.7416/ai.2021.2452. Epub 2021 Jul 6.
Refugees are a growing population in the EU-27 area with specific health needs that are to be addressed in the most rapid and effective way at their arrival in the host country. Screening for Hepatitis B Virus infection is offered to specific categories and it could be useful and effective to extend its indications. The aim of this study was to define the epidemiological profile regarding Hepatitis B Virus infection in re-fugees hosted in the Asylum Seekers Centers of Verona (Italy), diagnosed with latent tuberculosis infection and eligible for chemoprophylaxis.
We conducted a retrospective study in 715 refugees diagnosed with latent tuberculosis infection from January 1st, 2015 to December 31st, 2017. Screening for Hepatitis B Virus infection was offered to la-tent tuberculosis infection patients who were due to commence treatment. Subjects were tested for Hepatitis B surface Antigen and Hepatitis B core antigen total antibodies. None of the screened patients reported previous vaccination for hepatitis B.
Among the 715 refugees diagnosed with latent tuberculosis infection, 593 were eligible for treatment for latent tuberculosis infection. Of these, 211 (35.6%) accepted to be screened for Hepatitis B Virus infection. One hundred and ninety-five of the 211 (92.4%) came from African countries, and 16 (7.6%) from Asia; the majority (80.9%) were males. Median age was 23 years (95% CI 22-24). Of the 211, 58 individuals (27.5%) were Hepatitis B surface Antigen and Hepatitis B core antigen total antibodies positive; 74 (35.1%) were Hepatitis B surface Antigen negative and Hepatitis B core antigen total antibodies positive; and 79 (37.4%) were Hepatitis B surface Antigen and Hepatitis B core antigen total antibodies negative. Male gender and African origin were associated with a lower probability of being Hepatitis B surface Antigen- and Hepatitis B core antigen total antibodies-negative.
Screening for Hepatitis B Virus is of paramount importance not only for the control and prevention of infection, but also in terms of long-term healthcare issues. Making screening more systematic can have an important impact on public health, while always considering cost-effectiveness and promotion of awareness among ethnic groups in order to gain their compliance to treatment/vaccination.
难民是欧盟 27 国中人数不断增长的群体，他们在抵达收容国时有着特殊的健康需求，需要以最快、最有效的方式得到满足。乙型肝炎病毒感染筛查针对特定人群开展，如果扩大其适应证，可能是有用且有效的。本研究的目的是确定在维罗纳（意大利）难民营中接受潜伏性结核病治疗且符合化学预防条件的难民中乙型肝炎病毒感染的流行病学特征。
我们对 2015 年 1 月 1 日至 2017 年 12 月 31 日期间被诊断为潜伏性结核病感染的 715 名难民进行了回顾性研究。对即将开始治疗的潜伏性结核病感染患者进行乙型肝炎病毒感染筛查。检测乙型肝炎表面抗原和乙型肝炎核心总抗体。筛查人群中均无报告有乙型肝炎疫苗接种史。
在被诊断为潜伏性结核病感染的 715 名难民中，593 名有资格接受潜伏性结核病治疗。其中 211 名（35.6%）同意接受乙型肝炎病毒感染筛查。211 名筛查对象中，195 名（92.4%）来自非洲国家，16 名（7.6%）来自亚洲国家；其中男性占大多数（80.9%），中位年龄为 23 岁（95%CI 22-24）。211 名筛查对象中，58 名（27.5%）乙型肝炎表面抗原和乙型肝炎核心总抗体均阳性；74 名（35.1%）乙型肝炎表面抗原阴性而乙型肝炎核心总抗体阳性；79 名（37.4%）乙型肝炎表面抗原和乙型肝炎核心总抗体均阴性。男性和非洲来源与乙型肝炎表面抗原和乙型肝炎核心总抗体阴性的可能性较低相关。
乙型肝炎病毒筛查不仅对感染的控制和预防至关重要，而且对长期的医疗保健问题也至关重要。更系统地进行筛查可以对公共卫生产生重要影响，同时始终考虑成本效益和族裔群体的宣传，以获得他们对治疗/疫苗接种的依从性。
