Measles, mumps, rubella, varicella and hepatitis b seropositivity of medical and dental students at King Abdulaziz University

Background Medical and dental interns are at risk of acquiring (or transmitting) vaccine-preventable diseases, such as measles, mumps, rubella, varicella and hepatitis B. We aimed to determine the seroprevalence of mumps, measles, rubella, varicella, and hepatitis B among medical and dental interns. Methods A cross-sectional survey was performed on medical and dental students who applied for internship at King Abdulaziz University in 2013. The 2010 medical records of the students were reviewed and blood samples were collected and analyzed to determine the students’ immune status to measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, and hepatitis B. Students who did not have immunity were vaccinated and tested post-vaccination. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. Results We included 170 students (131 medical and 39 dental) aged 22-25 years (mean ± SD, 23.9 ± 0.7 years). Most medical and dental interns were measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella seropositive and only a few interns lacked immunity to these infections. A total of 108 students (63.5%) had received all three doses of hepatitis B vaccine when they presented for screening in 2013; thirty-five students (21.6%) had received two doses, while 19 (11.7%) had received only one dose. The hepatitis B vaccination history of eight students was undocumented. Overall, we documented 29 cases (17.1%) of non-response to HBV vaccine. Revaccination with hepatitis B vaccine elicited response in 18 (62.1%) of the non-responders. Conclusions A large proportion of students who are not immune to HBV are allowed to start clinical training. Thus, medical and dental students should be screened for vaccine-preventable diseases as early as in their preclinical years.