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Original Article
DOI: 10.22037/jds.v39i3.36287 ISSN 2645-4351

Safety Efficiency of General Vaccination Against Hepatitis B in Urmia
Dental Students

a
a
b
Seyyed Amir Seyyedi , Afsoon Asadollahi , Mehdi Aghamohammadi , Saman Taram c

a Assistant Professor, Det. of Oral Medicine, Dental Faculty Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran.
b Dentist, Private Practice, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran.
c Dental Student, Dental School, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran.
Correspondence to Saman Taram (email: taram.saman@umsu.ac.ir)
(Submitted: 9 November 2021 – Revised version received: 12 June 2022 – Accepted: 14 June 2022– Published online: Summer 2022)
Objectives Hepatitis B is a life-threatening disease that affects the liver. Despite the availability of vaccines and drugs, the disease
remains a major human health problem worldwide. The aim of this study was to evaluate the serum level of anti-HBs in dental students
of Urmia Dental School.
Methods This descriptive study was performed on 72 (38 males, 34 females) dental students vaccinated against hepatitis B. Totally, 5 cc
of venous blood was taken from each student and sent to a laboratory. In the laboratory, after serum separation, HBs antibody titer was
measured by Bind Mono kit by ELISA. Data were analyzed using SPSS 21 by the Chi-square test.
Results The minimum and maximum antibody titers were zero and 1000 IU/mg, respectively. Assessment of the frequency of HBs-Ab
adequacy showed that 7 (9.7%) students had no immune response, 23 (31.9%) had low safety level, and 42 (58.3%) had good and
acceptable safety levels. There was no significant difference between males and females in this regard (P>0.05)..
Conclusion Most of the students were immune to the virus, although about 32% of them showed low immunity, indicating the need for
re-vaccination. Seven out of 72 students were not immune to the disease.
Keywords Hepatitis B; Vaccines; Students, Dental

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Introduction as part of a national immunization program.
Skin lesions are more common in dental students than in
Acute hepatitis B infection and its chronic complications are other medical students. Various studies in different parts of
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among the most important health problems worldwide. More the world have reported a higher prevalence of infection and
than 2 billion people worldwide have a history of past or consequently a higher risk of hepatitis B virus transmission
current infection with the virus; of which, 350 million are among dentists. 6-9 Hepatitis B is transmitted by dermal
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chronic carriers of hepatitis B. Approximately 25% to 30% pathway and mucosal exposure to contaminated fluids such
of these patients expire earlier than patients with usual as blood. Infected needles can infect people working in the
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hepatic disease . Hepatitis B is the most common infectious medical field through accidental contact. Although there is
disease after tuberculosis and malaria. Annually, about 50 no strong evidence for contamination through saliva and
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million people are infected with hepatitis B. In Iran, the infected gingival crevicular fluid, some studies have
prevalence is 3% in the total population (about 2 million reported hepatitis B virus antigen in these fluids. 10-12
people); of which about 200-300 thousand people have In addition to chronic liver disease, the major concern in
chronic hepatitis B. Iran is one of the most prevalent regions hepatitis B infection is currently the subclinical process and
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for hepatitis B. the individual becoming a carrier of the virus. This transmits
Healthcare workers are 2 to 4 times more likely to develop the disease from a seemingly healthy person in the medical
hepatitis B than the general population due to occupational staff to other staff and patients. Unsuccessful vaccination for
exposure to infected blood and injured mucosal surfaces. any reason, including the use of substandard vaccines,
Dentists are at high risk of contracting the virus because of failure to timely administer the triple doses, or assess the
using sharp, small instruments contaminated with blood and antibody titers in the long-term, and the need for a reminder
other fluids. For this reason, in all societies, dentists are dose are important issues to determine protection.
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always strongly advised to be vaccinated against this virus. Assessment of antibody titers against the HBs is the first
The hepatitis B vaccine has a key role against hepatitis B step.
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virus infection and prevention of complications of chronic Hepatitis B is among the most prevalent diseases in dental
infections such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. personnel, and the role of antibodies in prevention of this
There are several factors involved in the effectiveness of the dilemma is undeniable. Since no similar study has been
hepatitis B vaccine, including prevalence of infection, age, performed in Urmia so far, this study was performed to
genetics, immune status, underlying diseases, smoking, evaluate the serum level of anti-HBs in dental students of
obesity, differences between vaccines, and place and method Urmia Dental School.
of vaccination. The vaccination strategy against hepatitis B
is based on geographical differences and the epidemiology Methods and Materials
of hepatitis B. The World Health Organization recommends
that people of countries with a moderate to high prevalence The study protocol was approved by the Research Ethics
of infection need to be vaccinated against hepatitis B at birth Committee of Urmia University of Medical Sciences (code
Copyright© 2022, Author(s). This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.