HBV, HCV and HIV seroprevalence in soldiers tested for carriership

Individuals employed or recruited to work in tourism, cleaning and food sectors and the men performing their military service in the food and cleaning services in the military are requested to undergo scans for the hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV) and human immunodeficiency (HIV) viruses as part of the carrier testing. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the seroprevalence of HBV, HCV and HIV in the soldiers scanned in terms of carriership. The study was conducted in the Kiziltepe State Hospital through the retrospective evaluation of the records of the soldiers who presented to the infectious diseases clinic between March 2010 and December 2012 for carriership scans. The HBV, HCV, and HIV tests were carried out in the central laboratory of the Kiziltepe State Hospital through the micro particle enzyme immunoassay (MEIA) method using the Axsym Plus Immunoassay Auto Analyzer (Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, Illinois, USA). The records of 367 soldiers between the ages of 20-22 were included in the study. Among these, 5 (1.36%) were HBsAg and 2 (0.55%) were anti-HCV positive, while none of them were positive for HIV. In order to reduce the risk of HBV, HCV and HIV infections, which are mainly transmitted through blood and sexual intercourse, preventive measures should be taken, education should be given and awareness should be increased. Especially individuals who are employed in sectors where the transmission risk is high should be periodically scanned and monitored for infection and diseases caused by these viruses.