High cost of silence: Needlestick injuries and the persistence of hepatitis B virus risk among healthcare trainees.

The study by Jaho et al published in the World Journal of Virology highlights a compelling paradox in occupational health: While a robust 86.6% of 134 Albanian health sciences students demonstrate seroprotection (antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen ≥ 10 IU/L), a staggering 64.5% report at least one needlestick injury during training. This high prevalence of exposure is compounded by a culture of silence, with one-third of incidents remaining unreported. This editorial analyzes why high seroprotection rates should not lead to institutional complacency. It argues that the specific vulnerability observed among midwifery students and the lack of systematic post-vaccination serological testing represent critical system gaps. Instead of relying solely on historical vaccination records, institutions should adopt guideline-based strategies for assessing hepatitis B immune status before clinical exposure, while fostering non-punitive reporting pathways. Bridging the gap between immunological protection and clinical behaviour is essential to safeguard those at the frontline of care.