[Prevalence of hepatitis B markers in the personnel of psychiatric hospitals].

The current rules and regulations in Spain state that those working in closed institutions, helping mentally disturbed patients, are considered personnel at risk for acquiring hepatitis B virus infection, without drawing distintions between professions and fields of work. The immunological state against HBV has been studied in a representative population group of workers of the Cadiz Provincial Psychiatric Hospital (82.90%). Our results show that the percentage of chronic carriers (3.15%) and those with other positive biological markers (30.07%) is greater than that found in the General hospitals of our country. Thus, the inclusion of this population group in preventive programs as well as vaccination programs against hepatitis B virus infection is totally justified.