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Completed

NCT Number: NCT04072211

Demonstration Project on Health Care Worker Protection Against Hepatitis B in Kalulushi District

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) has infected over one third of the world's population; of these about 350 million go on to be chronic carriers. Infection with HBV can be self-limiting depending on age and immunity status of the infected person. Acute infection with HBV is cleared within six months of initial infection while chronic infection can last longer than six months. HBV can be transmitted perinatally, sexually, horizontally, through direct contact with infectious body fluids or blood, being pricked with an infected needle and injury from instruments contaminated with infectious body fluid or blood. Certain population groups are at higher risk of infection with HBV. Among these populations is that of health care workers (HCWs). In this population, HBV infection can occur through occupational exposure. In fact, the hepatitis B virus is more contagious than human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) during a needle stick injury (30% versus 0.5%). It is therefore imperative that HCWs are highly knowledgeable about HBV and how they can prevent transmission. Protection from HBV infection can be achieved by means of vaccination after which the HBV vaccine has been shown to be 90-100% effective.

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Key information

Conditions

Hepatitis B Virus Blood-Borne Infections Communicable Diseases Cross Infection DNA Virus Infections Digestive System Diseases Disease Attributes Health Care Associated Infection Hepadnaviridae Infections Hepatitis Hepatitis B Hepatitis, Viral, Human Iatrogenic Disease Infections Liver Diseases Pathologic Processes Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Virus Diseases

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 4

Primary location

Kalulushi district all facilities

Kalulushi, Copperbelt, 10101, Zambia

About this study

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) has infected over one third of the world's population; of these about 350 million go on to be chronic carriers. In adults, infection with HBV can be self-limiting in up to 95% of those infected and the most common route of infection is sexual transmission. HBV can also be transmitted perinatally, horizontally, through direct contact with infectious body fluids or blood, being pricked with an infected needle and injury from instruments contaminated with infectious body fluid or blood.

Certain population groups are at higher risk of infection with HBV. Among these populations is that of health care workers (HCW). In this population, HBV infection can occur through occupational exposure. It is therefore imperative that HCWs are highly knowledgeable about HBV and how they can prevent transmission.Protection from HBV infection can be achieved by means of vaccination after which the HBV vaccine has been shown to be 90-100% effective.

Despite availability of these vaccines, studies have shown low rates of vaccination against HBV amongst HCW in different countries. However, in countries where there is a deliberate policy to vaccinate HCW, the rates of HBV vaccination are over 90%. In Zambia, this rate has been reported to be as low as 19.3%.

This project will demonstrate an approach to reduce HCW risk of HBV through increasing knowledge and awareness of HBV among HCWs, providing vaccination to HCWs and linking those already carrying HBV infection to care and treatment. The study will also investigate the cost of vaccinating HCWs against HBV and evaluate feasibility, acceptability and implementation factors to inform possible scale-up of this approach throughout Zambia.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Aged ≥18 years
  • Willing to consent and meet project requirements for training and follow-up.

Exclusion criteria

  • Kidney disease or renal failure
  • Pregnant
  • History or current neurological condition
  • Express refusal to consent

Treatment and study plan

Engerix-B

Biological

Hepatitis B vaccine administered through intramuscular injection at 0, 1, and 6 months

Primary outcomes

  1. Demonstrate attainment of protective Hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs) levels in their serum

    Time frame: Eight Months

    anti-HBs will be measured at enrollment before any vaccine is administered, at one months post first, before administering the third dose, and one month post last vaccine doses.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Demonstration of attained cell-mediated protection against Hepatitis B surface Antigen after vaccination.

    Time frame: Eight Months

    2.0×106 cells/mL will be stimulated with artificial Hepatitis B surface Antigen antigen and characterised into naïve B and T cells, effector B and T cells and memory B and T cells. This will be done by targeting specific cell surface markers using fluorochrome labelled antibodies such as anti-CD4+-ECD, CD8+-PeCy7, CD3-APC-H7, CD45RA-FITC, CD45RO-PCy7, FoxP3+-PE, CD27-PCy5, CCR7-FITC, CD20-APC, CD40-FITC, CD78-FITC, CD30-PE, CD38-PerCP-Cy5.5, CD19-PE-Cy7 and IgM-FITC. Before the cells are labelled, they will be stained and blocked using FcR blocking reagents.

  2. Linkage of health care workers with chronic Hepatitis B virus infection to treatment and management

    Time frame: One Month

    Health care workers who are Hepatitis B surface Antigen positive linked to routine care

  3. Cost and cost-effectiveness analysis of a universal Hepatitis B Virus vaccination strategy targeted at healthcare workers in Kalulushi district

    Time frame: Eighteen months

    The descriptive costing study will estimate the costs of a vaccination program. Assuming a bottom-up, ingredients-based approach, costs will be collected in local currency units and converted to United States Dollar (US$) using the midpoint exchange rate at the time of implementing the study. The cost-effectiveness analysis will be carried out from societal and payer's perspective.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia

Other

Collaborators

  • University of Oxford

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2019
Primary completion
2020
Study completion
2020
First posted
Aug 28, 2019
Registry last updated
Jul 20, 2022

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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