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Patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis, and medical personnel working in these units are at risk for infection with hepatitis B and C virus. Sixty-three patients and 29 medical personnel of three different hemodialysis units in Malatya province of Turkey were examined for HBV, HCV, HDV, and HEV infection markers. All serologic markers of hepatitis B were negative in 18 (28.6%) of 63 patients, and 13 (44.8%) of 29 medical personnels. Thirty-five (55.5%) of patients, and 14 (48.3%) of medical personnel were immune. Four (6.3%) of patients, and 2 (3.2%) of medical personnel were HBV seropositive. Hepatitis B surface antigen was detected in 9 of 63 (14.3 %) patients.
Of 63 patients, 31 (49.2 %) had anti-HCV positivity. No medical personnel had anti-HCV positivity. Only one patient and one personnel had antiHDV positivity. None of 63 patients were anti-HEV positive. Two of 29 personnels had anti-HEV positivity.
Our results demonstrate that hepatitis B, and C virus infections are still high in hemodialysis units.