[Occupational exposure to hepatitis B virus in hospital personnel at the Naval Medical Center "Cirujano Mayor Santiago Távara"].

Four hundred apparently healthy workers from different service areas of the Naval Medical Center "Cirujano Mayor Santiago Távara" constituted the basis for this epidemiological assessment for hepatitis B. Determination of serologic markers was done with an enzyme linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA). We evaluated hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), total antibodies against hepatitis B core antigen IgG type (anti-HBc-IgG) and antibodies against hepatitis B core antigen IgM type (anti-HBc-IgM). Results showed that 11.75% of the samples studied had antibodies against the core antigen. Negative results were obtained for HBsAg and anti-HBc-IgM. We found correlation between blood contact and the prevalence of the total antibodies against hepatitis B core antigen IgG type in medical personnel. The total antibodies against hepatitis B core antigen IgG type was positive in function of previous history of hepatitis, time of occupation, and age. The results obtained in the present study confirm the increased risk of hepatitis B infection in health care personnel compared to general population. This seroepidemiological survey shows that hospital personnel of the Naval Medical Center has a lower prevalence of HBV infection that the prevalence found by other authors in the personnel of other hospitals in Perú.