Hepatitis B virus markers among family contacts and medical personnel of 239 hemodialysis patients.

The present study was initiated to assess the risk of infection of medical personnel and family contacts of hemodialysis patients. It confirms previous reports that hemodialysis patients and staff members of hemodialysis units are at high risk of acquiring HBV infection. Approximately 25% of the household contacts had serological signs of past or ongoing HBV infections. The risk of infection of the family contact was independent of the mode of dialysis but increased if the contact was a spouse, assisted in dialysis, or if the index hemodialysis patient was HBsAg positive. There is an urgent need for active immunization to prevent spread of HBV related to hemodialysis.