Who is at an increased risk of contracting Hepatitis B?

Individuals in the healthcare field, particularly those involved in direct patient care, are at an increased risk of contracting Hepatitis B. This is because they may be exposed to blood and bodily fluids from patients, which can contain the Hepatitis B virus. Hemodialysis nurses, specifically, often work with patients who have various conditions that may involve blood exposure, such as kidney disease, increasing their risk of transmission.

While pregnant women can also be at risk of transmitting Hepatitis B to their infants, and some infants born to infected mothers may also face a higher likelihood of contracting the virus, the direct hazards experienced by hemodialysis nurses through their daily interactions with potentially infectious materials put them in a consistently elevated risk category. Similarly, while healthcare providers as a broader group may have an increased risk, the specific context of hemodialysis nurses, dealing directly with blood, emphasizes their heightened vulnerability compared to more general healthcare roles.