Prevalência da infecção pelo vírus da hepatite B em uma população institucionalizada portadora de doença mental

Abstract

Hepatitis B is a major public health problem worldwide due to the number of individuals affected and the complications resulting from acute and chronic forms of infection. According to the literature, institutionalized individuals suffering from mental disorders represent a group at risk for acquisition of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. In this sense, the present study aimed to investigate the molecular and seroepidemiological profile of HBV infection in a population of institutionalized mentally disturbed in state of Goiás. Blood samples from 333 patients were collected in period of July/2011 to January/2012, and the samples were subjected to enzyme immunoassay for detection of HBV markers infection (HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HBc) using commercial kits. The overall prevalence of HBV infection was 12.9%, with an index of isolated positivity for anti-HBc marker of 4.2%. Only three individuals were positive for the marker of active HBV infection (HBsAg) resulting in a 0.9% positivity. Only 4.2% (14/333) of the study population had serologic evidence of previous vaccination against HBV and the susceptibility to HBV, characterized by the absence of any marker, was observed in 82.9% of the population. Multivariate analysis identified sex (male) and the inpatient unit - F (male patients, young adults, wheelchair users) and G (males patients, adults, psychiatric) - as a factor associated with HBV infection. In addition, we proceeded the HBV-DNA detection in the samples with profile anti-HBc alone (N = 14), HBsAg positive (N = 3), anti-HBc/anti-HBs (N = 26) and those anti-HBs alone (N = 14). Thus, 57 samples were subjected to PCR. Three samples with profile anti-HBc alone, one anti-HBc/anti-HBs and one anti-HBs alone were positive for HBV-DNA, resulting in an index of occult HBV infection of 9.2% (5/54). Phylogenetic analysis of HBV-DNA positive samples identified all as genotype A. The results show a significant prevalence of HBV infection in this population, highlighting the need for improvement in strategies for HBV infection prevention and control, as well as a continuous monitoring of HBV positive patients.