Did you test for previous Hep B disease?
From: MCOH-EH [mailto:mcoh-eh-bounces+terri.thrasher=cchmc.org@mylist.net]
On Behalf Of Deborah A. Pruim via MCOH-EH
Sent: Wednesday, July 11, 2018 8:13 AM
To: MCOH/EH <mcoh-eh@mylist.net>
Cc: Deborah A. Pruim <dpruim@lcmh.org>
Subject: Re: [MCOH-EH] [EXTERNAL] Re: Incompletely Vaccinated HepB & Immunity Titers
Wondering what we should do with non-converters? I have a few employees who have had 2 documented rounds of Hep B vaccine (6 doses per routine protocol) and
still test negative for antibodies. Booster injections of vaccine do not help. Thoughts?
Thanks,
Debbie
Deborah Pruim, RN, MSN, APN, CNS
Employee Health Services
Little Company of Mary Hospital
2800 W. 95th Street
Evergreen Park, IL 60805
Monday – Friday
6:30am-3pm
Phone: 708-229-5623
Fax: 708-229-6618
From: MCOH-EH [mailto:mcoh-eh-bounces@mylist.net]
On Behalf Of Lanzi, Maria
Sent: Wednesday, July 11, 2018 7:06 AM
To: MCOH/EH
Cc: fldocstu@aol.com
Subject: Re: [MCOH-EH] [EXTERNAL] Re: Incompletely Vaccinated HepB & Immunity Titers
Good morning,
You raise good points. And most of us would follow our clinical judgement, but the issue becomes more complicated in post-exposure prophylaxis.
In summary:
The latest CDC MMWR released January 12, 2018 states that without 3 documented doses long term immunity cannot be ensured as vaccine induced HbsAb wane over time.
Given the fact that most of us deal with the issues as you stated below on a daily basis, it has become a clinical judgement decision and clinicians operate differently.
Since Hep B vaccine is cell-mediated immunity, a rapid antibody response in a potential positive exposure is critical. The titer on pre-hire testing is valid, just unable to ensure if it would be long term. If a needlestick occurs later in time (say
10 years after pre-hire), the possibility of a negative HbsAb would complicate the clinical decision process.
For those “ancient HCP” like myself, having received the original pooled blood vaccine, some of us think it may have given us “longer and better” protection than
the current recombinant vaccine – although with a higher risk of adverse reactions. I have found no studies to support this theory. There was also, for many years, the thought that those HCP in higher risk categories (ie surgeons) should be tittered on
a periodic basis. While that is no longer recommended, again, many clinicians use clinical judgement. One must also keep in mind that since 1994 when Hep B vaccine became universally recommended, that the overall risk of contracting Hep B in certain age
groups has decreased.
A very complicated topic with multiple approaches to interpretation. Best practice is to ensure 3 documented appropriately administered doses with a positive
titer 4-6 weeks after last dose.
Maria
Maria C. Lanzi, MS, MPH, ANP-BC, COHN-S, CTH
Nurse Practitioner/Program Coordinator
Employee Occupational Health
Corporal Michael J Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center
3900Woodland Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Work: 215 823 5800 x 2592
Fax: 215 823 5968
From: MCOH-EH [mailto:mcoh-eh-bounces+maria.lanzi=va.gov@mylist.net]
On Behalf Of Stuart Sandler via MCOH-EH
Sent: Tuesday, July 10, 2018 8:33 AM
To: mcoh-eh@mylist.net
Cc: fldocstu@aol.com
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: [MCOH-EH] Incompletely Vaccinated HepB & Immunity Titers
List,
I may be missing something, so ask for enlightenment. If someone comes in knowing that they had the 3 series of HepB vaccine and you receive a positive HepBSAb titer on your pre-hire
testing, why would you give a repeat series if the person cannot produce written documentation of the vaccines? I received my vaccines many years ago and the institution is no longer available to ask for records, nor did we think of that at the time. Would
not the positive titer itself suffice for proof of immunity? I have not been asked in the past by any employer or hospital for proof of vaccine, just proof of immunity.
And what do you do with a person who doesn't remember if they had ever been vaccinated (happens more times than I can count), yet has a sufficient HepBSAb titer? It doesn't mean
that they never received the series. Then, too, what do you do if the person received two vaccines only, but has a significantly positive titer? Why would you give them the third, especially if it had been a while since the first two? For example, I became
significantly symptomatic after my second vaccine (OK, it WAS
in the stone ages at the early start of vaccinations and they weren't as refined as they are curently), so a titer was done prior to getting the third. I had a high Ab titer, so it was decided that I had been properly immunized and that the risks
of having the third were outweighed by the possible of a worsened reaction. BTW, I had a documented 0 titer prior to the vaccine series.
Just curious.
Stuart A. Sandler, DO
-----Original Message-----
Today's Topics:
1. Re: #ExtMail# Incompletely Vaccinated HepB & Immunity Titers
AND ? requiring Hepatitis B vaccination for employees?
(Schweitzer, Kit)
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Message: 1
Date: Mon, 9 Jul 2018 22:32:14 +0000
From: "Schweitzer, Kit" <KSchweitzer@peacehealth.org>
To: "MCOH/EH" <mcoh-eh@mylist.net>
Subject: Re: [MCOH-EH] #ExtMail# Incompletely Vaccinated HepB &
Immunity Titers AND ? requiring Hepatitis B vaccination for employees?
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We require documentation of 3 Hep B vaccs AND positive titer to ensure life long immunity as recommended by CDC. We start the series over if they don't have documentation and only a titer. If documentation and no titer, we draw a titer.
Thank you.