Prevalence of Hepatitis B Virus and Hepatitis  C Virus Infection among Hemodialysis Patients  in Taiz City-Yemen

Abdulgleel Abdulghani  Al-shamiri; Adam Hezam Faed AL-Shammeri; Ashwaq Ahammed Abdullah

Prevalence of Hepatitis B Virus and Hepatitis C Virus Infection among Hemodialysis Patients in Taiz City-Yemen

Authors

Abdulgleel Abdulghani Al-shamiri Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Taiz University, Yemen Franch laboratory, The republican General Teching Hospital. Taiz, Yemen
Adam Hezam Faed AL-Shammeri Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Taiz University, Yemen Department of Medical Laboratories Al-Saeed University, Yemen
Ashwaq Ahammed Abdullah Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Taiz University, Yemen

Keywords:

Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Hemodialysis

Abstract

Hemodialysis (HD) patients are at high risk of infection with blood-borne viruses such as hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV and HCV). Chronic infections with HBV and HCV may lead to liver cirrhosis, hepatic failure, and hepatocellular carcinoma. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of HBV and HCV infections among HD patients at the Republican General Teaching Hospital, Taiz city, Yemen. A total of 511 patients underwent HD from May 2019 to April 2020. As standard at HD department, all patients had to screen for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and HCV antibodies (HCV-Ab) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) techniques. Among 511 patients, 313 were males (61.25%) and, 198 were females (38.74%). The overall prevalence of HBV and HCV infections was found as 10.2% and13.11% respectively. The prevalence of HBV and HCV infections among males was found as 29.51% and 70.49% respectively. The prevalence of HBV and HCV infections among females was found as 58.52% and 41.38% respectively. HD patients were significantly at high risk of HBV and HCV infections (P < 0.05). This study concluded that HBV and HCV infection represents a serious nosocomial health problem in dialysis units in Yemen. So, strict adherence to infection control among HD patients will minimize hepatitis infections.