Levels of anti-HBs antibody in HBV-vaccinated students enrolled in the faculty of medicine, dentistry and health professions of a large Italian University.

BACKGROUND: Prophylaxis against hepatitis B virus (HBV) addressed to students of the faculties of health professions has received great attention. Objectives. The present study aims to assess vaccination coverage against hepatitis B in healthcare professionals in training. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was carried out using data from the students of medicine, dentistry, and health professions. RESULTS: 4180 vaccination certifications were examined through the internal database. Significant differences (<0.0001) emerge between the number of doses applied and the antibody level. 50.4% of the students have nonprotective antibody levels (<10 IU). The age of the first dose significantly influences the level of coverage, resulting in more coverage in those vaccinated with earlier onset (1-10 years). Antibody levels are not significantly different by type of course; the levels of noncoverage are present in 44.4% of the students of medicine and dentistry and in 50.6% among those belonging to the health professions. CONCLUSIONS: This study represents one of the first experiences in Italy on vaccination against HBV and the relationship between doses of vaccination and antibody titer in the biomedical students that can configure a step forward in the real-time monitoring in order to establish a register of vaccination.

[Latent tuberculosis infection: prevalence amongst healthcare students at the Sapienza University of Rome (Italy)]. / Infezione tubercolare latente: analisi su una popolazione di studenti della Sapienza Università di Roma.

Healthcare workers, including medical, dentistry and nursing students, have an increased risk of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. In this study the prevalence of tuberculin skin test (TST) positivity (defined as induration ≥ 5 mm) among healthcare students enrolled at the Sapienza University of Rome (Italy) in the years 2011-2012 was evaluated. Overall, 2,519 students with a mean age of 20.6 years were tested, of whom 62.4% were female, 0.4% were vaccinated with BCG and 4.6% were foreign-born. Eighty-two students (3.3%) were found to have a positive TST. Prevalence varied by age and geographical place of birth. A baseline evaluation of medical and other healthcare students' TST status at the beginning of their training is essential to better implement infection and control measures for tuberculosis infection.

[Control and prevention of tuberculosis in healthcare facilities]. / Protocollo per la Prevenzione e il Controllo del Rischio di Tubercolosi nelle strutture sanitarie.

Tuberculosis remains the leading cause of death by a single infectious agent. Healthcare workers who for professional reasons are exposed to infectious patients and to potentially contaminated materials are at high risk of infection. This article provides a review of existing regulations and summarizes national and international guidelines and operational protocols for tuberculosis surveillance in clinical settings.

Morphometric variability between and within species of Ligophorus Euzet & Suriano, 1977 (Monogenea: Ancyrocephalidae) in the Mediterranean Sea.

Monogeneans belonging to the genus Ligophorus Euzet & Suriano, 1977 are parasitic on the gills of several fish species of the family Mugilidae (mullets). At present, 12 species belonging to this genus have been described in the Mediterranean Sea and each host species is infected by a number of Ligophorus species that are not found on other mullets. A multivariate study using principal component and canonical variate analyses was carried out, with the aim of investigating the extent of morphometric variability within and between the 12 Mediterranean species of Ligophorus. Significant intraspecific morphometric variation was detected between two allopatric populations of L. angustus Euzet & Suriano, 1977 parasitic on Chelon labrosus from Sardinia; however, the existence of a new species of Ligophorus needs further evidence. Analysis of interspecific variation confirms the validity of the morphological keys used at present for the identification of Ligophorus at the species level and provides a picture of the relationships between species, indicating that the two species parasitising Mugil cephalus, L. chabaudi Euzet & Suriano, 1977 and L. mugilinus (Hargis, 1955) are the most differentiated. The hypothesis that strict host-parasite ecological relationships may be the result of co-speciation processes is briefly discussed.