ArticleGold CH.
S Afr Med J. 1979 Aug 11;56(6):214-7.
All patients considered for regular haemodialysis, as well as all nurses recruited to work in the haemodialysis unit of Baragwanath Hospital, were tested for the presence of hepatitis-associated antigen (HBAg) and for antibody to hepatitis-associated antigen (HBAb). Thereafter they were tested at intervals as long as they remained in the unit. The prevalence of HBAg was 1,7% in nurses and 5,1% in patients. HBAb was present in 27,2% of nurses and 35,1% of patients. HBAg is found less frequently among Black haemodialysis patients than is reported from Europe or the USA, but the prevalence is similar to that among healthy Blacks in South Africa. The prevalence of HBAb is similar to that in Europe or the USA. Follow-up studies showed no instance of hepatitis or seroconversions of HBAg, but there was a small number of conversions of HBAb from negative to positive.