Undiagnosed hepatitis B and C infection is rare in Sydney gay and bisexual men attending a community HIV testing site
John Lockwood A D , James Gray B and Christine Selvey CA Sydney Sexual Health Centre, Nightingale Wing, Sydney Hospital, Macquarie Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia.
B ACON, 414 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills, NSW 2010, Australia.
C Communicable Diseases Branch, NSW Health Protection, NSW Health, 73 Miller Street, North Sydney, NSW 2060, Australia.
D Corresponding author. Email: johntimothylockwood@gmail.com
Sexual Health 14(3) 296-297 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH16102
Submitted: 17 June 2016 Accepted: 3 December 2016 Published: 6 February 2017
Abstract
This letter reports on an enhanced surveillance snapshot of hepatitis B and C at a men who have sex with men community testing site in inner Sydney. The finding show undiagnosed hepatitis B and C infection is rare in this population of gay and bisexual men. Evidence of immunity to hepatitis B through vaccination is high, however client knowledge of vaccination status is poor. Current targeted hepatitis screening practices were sufficient to detect all undiagnosed cases of hepatitis B and C in this population.
References
[1] National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance. Significant events in hepatitis B vaccination practice in Australia. Available online at: http://www.ncirs.edu.au/assets/provider_resources/history/Hepatitis-B-history-November-2015.pdf [verified 11 April 2016].[2] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention A comprehensive immunization strategy to eliminate transmission of hepatitis B virus infection in the United States: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP); Part I: immunization of infants, children and adolescents. MMWR Wkly Rep 2005; 54 1–23.
[3] But DY, Lai CL, Lim WL, Fung J, Wong DKH, Yuen MF. Twenty-two years follow-up of a prospective randomized trial of hepatitis B vaccines without booster dose in children: final report. Vaccine 2008; 26 6587–91.
| Twenty-two years follow-up of a prospective randomized trial of hepatitis B vaccines without booster dose in children: final report.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[4] Behre U, Bleckmann G, Crasta PD, Leyssen M, Messier M, Jacquet JM, Hardt K. Clarification to long-term anti-HBs antibody persistence and immune memory in children and adolescents who received routine childhood hepatitis B vaccination. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2012; 8 813–8.
| Clarification to long-term anti-HBs antibody persistence and immune memory in children and adolescents who received routine childhood hepatitis B vaccination.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[5] Lin CC, Yang CY, Shih CT, Chen BH, Huang YL. Waning immunity and booster responses in nursing and medical technology students who had received plasma-derived or recombinant hepatitis B vaccine during infancy. Am J Infect Control 2011; 39 408–14.
| Waning immunity and booster responses in nursing and medical technology students who had received plasma-derived or recombinant hepatitis B vaccine during infancy.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[6] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention A comprehensive immunization strategy to eliminate transmission of hepatitis B virus infection in the United States: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP); Part II: Immunization of adults. MMWR Wkly Rep 2006; 55 1–25.
[7] The Kirby Institute. HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmissible infections in Australia. Annual surveillance report 2015. Sydney: The Kirby Institute, UNSW Australia; 2015.
