Effect of preventive applications on prevalence of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infections in West Turkey

OBJECTIVE: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are community health problems in developing countries and the most common causative agents of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. This study investigates the prevalence and the effect of preventive applications on prevalence of HBV and HCV infections in blood donors.

METHODS: Blood donors enrolled to the University and State Hospital Blood Banks in Aydin region of Turkey through the years 1993 to 2002 were retrospectively analyzed. Blood donors were investigated in 2 groups, Group I (1993-1997) and Group II (1998-2002) to compare the prevalence difference in 10-years period. Serum hepatitis B antigen (HbsAg) and anti-HCV were tested by commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits and anti-HCV positive results were confirmed by recombinant immune blot assays HCV test.

RESULTS: The prevalence of HBV and HCV infections was determined as 1.5% and 0.19% over the period 1993-2002. Although, the prevalence of HBV infection declined significantly in Group II (1.17%) in comparison with Group I (2.27%) (p<0.0001), there was no significant difference in both groups regarding HCV infection (p=0.238).

CONCLUSION: Preventive applications against blood transfusion related diseases succeed to decrease HBV infection significantly in West Turkey. Vaccination seems to be the most effective method to prevent hepatitis infection.