A cross-sectional sero-survey on preoperative HBV vaccination policy in Poland.

The success rate in achieving adequate immune protection with two dose HBV vaccination schedule in preoperatively vaccinated patients is relatively low, especially among those vaccinated less than five weeks prior to surgery. In more than a third of cases the standard three-dose regimen could have been implemented, as participants had time to complete a third dose. Current recommendations regarding a preoperative policy with a 2-dose vaccination schedule in Poland should be revised; the best time to perform surgery after the implementation of the second dose of vaccine in the context of patient protection against HBV infection would be between 38 and 60 days.