PREVALENCE AND EPIDEMIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF HEPATITIS B VIRUS INFECTION IN A POPULATION SAMPLE FROM SOUTHERN ROMANIA: A FOUR-YEAR RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS (2021–2024)

Abstract

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a major public health challenge. The present retrospective study evaluated the HBsAg seroprevalence in a sample of 5501 patients tested in Alexandria (Teleorman County) between 2021 and 2024 using rapid immunochromatographic methods. The overall seropositivity rate was 4.45 % (245 cases), with a significantly higher prevalence in males compared to females (5.62 % vs. 3.99 %, p = 0.0078; OR = 1.44). The age distribution showed a progressive increase reaching 5.68% in the 50–64 age group, whereas no positive cases were recorded in the under-18 age group, confirming the effectiveness of the
national HBV vaccination program launched in 1995. Temporal dynamics revealed a slight increase in annual prevalence from 3.95 % in 2022 to 5.04 % in 2024, highlighting the necessity of continuing population screening campaigns.