RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Although a majority of countries in the Middle East show intermediate or high endemicity of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, which clearly poses a serious public health problem in the region, the situation in the Republic of Syria remains unclear. The aim of this study is to determine the hepatitis B vaccination status, to assess the number of vaccinations administered, and to estimate the annual incidence of needlestick injuries (NSIs) among healthcare workers (HCWs) in Aleppo University hospitals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional design with a survey questionnaire was used for exploring details of NSIs during 2008, hepatitis B vaccination status, and HBV infection among a random stratified sample of HCWs in three tertiary hospitals in Aleppo (n = 321). RESULTS: Two hundred and forty-six (76.6%) HCWs had sustained at least one NSI during 2008. Nine (2.8%) had HBV chronic infection and 75 HCWs (23.4%) were never vaccinated. Anesthesiology technicians had the greatest exposure risk when compared to office workers [OR = 16,95% CI (2.55-100), P < 0.01], doctors [OR = 10,95% CI (2.1 47.57), P < 0.01], and nurses [OR = 6.75,95% CI (1.56-29.03), P = 0.01]. HCWs under 25 and between the age of 25 and 35 years were at increased risk for NSI when compared to HCWs older than 45 years [OR = 3.12,95% CI (1.19-8.19), P = 0.02] and [OR = 3.05,95% CI (1.42-6.57), P < 0.01], respectively. CONCLUSION: HCWs at Aleppo University hospitals are frequently exposed to blood-borne infections. Precautions and protection from NSIs are important in preventing infection of HCWs. Education about the transmission of blood-borne infections, vaccination, and post-exposure prophylaxis must be implemented and strictly monitored.
RESUMEN
To determine the characteristics of the hemodialysis (HD) patients in Aleppo city, we surveyed the hospitals representing the main dialysis centers in the city including private and community facilities during 2006. Personal patients' interviews and hospitals records were the source of data. The total number of patients in 2006 undergoing HD was 550 patients; 280 (50.9%) were males, and the age ranged from 5-82 years with mean and median age 44.7 and 45 years, respectively. The incidence (IR) and prevalence rate (PR) for hemodialysis were 60 pmp and 226 pmp, respectively. The major primary renal diseases in the end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients included hypertension (HTN), glomerulonephritis (GN), and diabetes mellitus (DM), 21.1%, 20.5 %, and 19.45, respectively. The percent of Anti-HCV, HBV hepatitis and HBV vaccine were 54.4%, 7.8%, and 52.9%, respectively. This study suggests that the IR of hemodialysis was relatively low due to the high cost of treatment, and the PR for hemodialysis was also relatively low may be due to high mortality rate and low kidney transplantation rate in this country. There was an equal percentage of both genders in the hemodialysis population.
