HIV and Hepatitis B Seroprevalence in Trauma Patients in North Central Nigeria.

Abstract

Background; With the high prevalence rate of HIV and Hepatitis B infections in sub-saharan African,infected surgical patients,especially those with fresh open wounds,pose significant danger of occupationally-acquired infections to health workers.Method; A two-year double blind study aimed at determining the seroprevalence rates of HIV and Hepatitis B virus infections among trauma patients with fresh open wounds In North Central Nigeria.Results; There were 134 patients with fresh open wounds in this study; their ages ranged between 17-80 years with a mean of 30.9+/-9.6 years and the male:female ratio was 5:1. All the patients were tested for both HIV and Hepatitis B virus infections. Six (4.5%)patients were positive for HIV-1 while 95 (57.4%)males and 18(13.4%)females tested positive for Hepatitis B;5(3.7%) patients tested positive for both HIV and Hepatitis B;5(3.7%)patients tested positive for both HIV and Hepatitis B. Though every social class was represented,HIV infection rate was higher in social class V than in Social Class 1 but the class incidence of Hepatitis B virus infection in trauma patients was remarkably higher than the incidence of HIV infection. The implication is that emphasis on control of exposure of health care workers to blood borne infections in the workplace should be as strong for Hepatitis B virus infection as it is for HIV. Conclusion; The main finding of this study was the determination of seroprevalence of HIV and Hepatitis B virus infection in trauma patients with open wounds which underpinned the dangers they pose to health care workers.