Evaluation of Hepatitis B Vaccination Coverage and Serological Response in People Living with HIV

Abstract

Aim: People living with HIV (PLWH) face a heightened risk of acquiring hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection because these two viruses share common transmission pathways. HIV/HBV coinfection is associated with accelerated liver disease progression. Consequently, hepatitis B vaccination is a critical preventive measure for PLWH. This study was designed to assess the serological response to hepatitis B vaccination in PLWH.Material and Methods: PLWH followed at the Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology Clinic who were seronegative for HBsAg, anti-HBs, and anti-HBc IgG were retrospectively identified. Anti-HBs levels measured 1 month to 1 year after the final vaccine dose were assessed. Criteria associated with low response (anti-HBs titer: <100 mIU/mL) and high response (≥100 mIU/mL) were also evaluated.Results: A total of 54 patients were included in the final analysis. The median age was 43 (range, 22–80) years and 25.9% of the patients were female. Forty-nine patients (90.7%) had anti-HBs levels ≥10 mIU/mL. Anti-HBs levels ≥100 mIU/mL were observed in 10 (28.6%) patients who had received at least one double-dose vaccination versus 3 (15.8%) patients who had not (p=0.341), and in 18 (51.4%) patients with undetectable HIV RNA versus 5 (26.3%) patients with detectable HIV RNA (p=0.091), without reaching statistical significance.Conclusion: Adherence to the hepatitis B vaccination schedule was found to be suboptimal. Identifying the underlying causes of poor vaccination adherence and implementing strategies to improve compliance are essential in PLWH.