Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40333169›Full record

ArticlePathogens (Basel, Switzerland)2025

Impact of the Hepatitis B Immunization Strategy Adopted in Italy from 1991: The Results of a Seroprevalence Study on the Adult Population of Florence, Italy.

Sara Boccalini, Beatrice Zanella, Marco Del Riccio, Benedetta Bonito, Massimiliano Alberto Biamonte, Mario Bruschi, Giulia Ionita, Diana Paolini, Maddalena Innocenti, Lorenzo Baggiani and 5 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors.

Sara BoccaliniDepartment of Health Sciences, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-9695-7549
Beatrice ZanellaDepartment of Health Sciences, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy.
Marco Del RiccioDepartment of Health Sciences, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-2742-0297
Benedetta BonitoDepartment of Health Sciences, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy.
Massimiliano Alberto BiamonteMedical Specialization School of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy.
Mario BruschiMedical Specialization School of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy.ORCID 0009-0008-9861-8891
Giulia IonitaMedical Specialization School of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy.ORCID 0009-0002-8794-8605
Diana PaoliniMedical Specialization School of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-8062-5710
Maddalena InnocentiMedical Specialization School of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy.
Lorenzo BaggianiAUSL Toscana Centro, 50122 Florence, Italy.
Monica Della FonteAUSL Toscana Centro, 50122 Florence, Italy.
Giovanna MereuAUSL Toscana Centro, 50122 Florence, Italy.
Paolo BonanniDepartment of Health Sciences, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-2875-3744
Working Group
Angela BechiniDepartment of Health Sciences, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-6013-8779

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Italy was one of the first countries to implement a hepatitis B (HBV) immunization strategy in 1991; since its introduction, the epidemiology of this disease has significantly changed. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the seroprevalence of three HBV markers (anti-HBs, anti-HBc, and HBsAg) and describe the acquired immunity in a representative sample of the adult general population in the province of Florence (Italy) between April 2018 and December 2019. We conducted an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay on 430 serum samples collected from the adult general population to quantify anti-HBs titers and assess the presence of anti-HBc and HBsAg. For the interpretation of hepatitis B serologic results, we referred to the US CDC guidelines. We conducted two multivariate logistic regression analyses (applied to the entire enrolled population and to the unvaccinated) to assess predictors of immunity against HBV using sex, age, and nationality as predictors. The overall anti-HBs prevalence was 30%, with a significant decreasing trend in seropositivity with increasing age. The overall anti-HBc prevalence was 11.6%, with seropositivity increasing with age. Only one subject tested positive for HBsAg (0.2%). Approximately 67.4% (290/430) of the study population was susceptible, 20.9% (90/430) was vaccinated, 9.1% (39/430) had naturally acquired immunity, and 0.2% (1/430) had an acute infection. Older age and foreign nationality were identified as risk factors in both multivariate logistic regression models. The comparison highlights a reduction in the circulation of HBV infection markers (anti-HBc and HBsAg) over 30 years in Tuscany, particularly in younger age groups. Our seroprevalence study demonstrated a good level of protection against hepatitis B, primarily among individuals under 40 years old, the target group of the vaccination strategy.

Indexed as

Hepatitis BHepatitis B AntibodiesHepatitis B VaccinesHepatitis B virusAdolescentAdultAgedFemaleHepatitis B Surface AntigensHumansItalyMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesSeroepidemiologic StudiesYoung AdultHepatitis B AntibodiesHepatitis B Surface AntigensHepatitis B Vaccinesacute infectionadultchronic infectionELISAepidemiologyHBVpredictorserological markervaccination

Identifiers

PMID40333169
PMCPMC12030553

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.