Inappropriate response against Hepatitis B vaccine in health personnel of the National Hospital, Paraguay.

Introduction: health personnel are a risk group for acquiring hepatitis B. The vaccine against it is effective but requires evaluation of the immune response with the dosage of anti-HBs.Objectives: to determine the immunological response to the vaccine against hepatitis B in physicians, nurses and medical students of the National Hospital, Paraguay.Methods: an observational, analytical and cross-sectional study was conducted in a sample of 120 health workers during 2017. The level of anti-HBs was determined with quantitative immunoassay and demographic and clinical variables were recorded, with prior informed consent.Results: the sample was integrated with 79 women and 41 men. The mean age was 28±7 years. Physicians (62.5%), nurses (20%) and medical students (17.5%) were included. The mean BMI was 24.7 ± 3.8 kg/m2. Adequate serum levels of anti-HBs (> 100 IU / mL) were detected in 64% of the health personnel. Obesity was a factor associated with poor response to the vaccine (p 0.02). Sex, age, the time elapsed since the last dose and smoking were factors not significantly associated with the lack of response to the vaccine.Conclusion: inadequate response to HB vaccine was found in 36%. Obesity was significantly associated with poor immunological response.