COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF PREVALENCE OF INFECTIONS CAUSED BY HEPATITIS B AND C VIRUSES AMONG INDIVIDUALS OF VARIOUS GROUPS WITH HIGH RISK OF INFECTION

Aim. Determination of breadth of spread of hepatitis B and C viruses among members of 5 groups with high risk of infection. Materials and methods. By enzyme immunoassay 3219 sera of members of groups with high risk of infection and 1541 sera of blood donors were studied for the presence of HBsAg and anti-HCV. In 5 risk groups were included: HIV-infected individuals, lung tuberculosis patients, hemoblastosis patients, chronic renal failure patients on hemodialysis and users of injectable drugs, permanently residing in Republic of Azerbaijan. Results. Frequency of detection of HBsAg and anti-HCV in these individuals was significantly higher than in control groups. HBsAg and anti-HCV most frequently occurred in HIV-infected individuals and users of injectable drugs - more than 50% of all the infected belonged to these groups. Average prevalence of these viruses was among hemoblastosis patients and chronic renal failure patients on hemodialysis - both markers were determined in approximately a third of patients of each group. The least prevalence was among lung tuberculosis patients - HBsAg and anti-HCV were determined in less than 25% of cases. Conclusion. Serologic study carried out among members of groups of high risk residing in Azerbaijan allowed us to make a conclusion that all these individuals belong to groups with high prevalence of HBsAg and anti-HCV and by this be a collective reservoir of HVB and HVC in population.

hepatitis B and C viruses, groups of high risk of infection