Analysing Anti-HBS Titer Levels in Vaccinated Students of Dentistry in A Tertiary Care Hospital

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of hepatitis B vaccination coverage and sero-protective levels of anti-HBs antibody titers among dental students. METHODOLOGY: A cross sectional study was undertaken over the course of 6 months i.e. 9th May, 2019 to 9th Nov, 2019 on 130 dentistry students in Foundation University College of Dentistry, Islamabad. Permission was taken from hospital ethical committee FUCD for the study. Students who received full course of HBV vaccination after recording in a given performa and who gave consent for testing were sampled for anti-HBs antibody titers. RESULTS: It was found that out of 130 dental students only 5 (3.8%) have checked Anti-HBs titer levels after full course of vaccination and 113 (86.9%) students reported to have received three complete doses of hepatitis B vaccine. After estimation of anti-Hbs antibody levels of 113(86.9%) students, it was found that 34 (30.1%) possessed negative seroprotective level while 79 (69.9%) positive seroprotective level. CONCLUSION: The study concluded inadequate vaccination coverage among dentistry students where 86.9% students were fully vaccinated, with considerable reduction in anti-HBs titters found among 30.1% students. KEYWORDS: Hepatitis B, Anti HBs Titer, Seroprotection, Dental students, HBV transmission, Vaccination