Hospital-acquired hepatitis a: report of an outbreak

Pediatrics. 1981 Apr;67(4):494-7.

Abstract

A nosocomial outbreak of hepatitis A occurred after hospitalization of a 21-month-old girl with amebic liver abscess and unsuspected, anicteric hepatitis A. The index patient, who had an acute diarrheal illness prior to enzyme elevations, seroconverted from IgM hepatitis A antibody to IgG hepatitis A antibody. Of the 103 hospital personnel with known or potential exposure, three physicians (2.9%) contracted clinical hepatitis A, 27 to 29 days after their initial contact with the source patient. A fourth physician developed subclinical infection. Two of the three clinical cases occurred in two of the three primary care physicians of the source patient. Hepatitis A should be considered in any patient with acute, unexplained liver enzyme abnormalities. Diarrhea occurring in a fecally incontinent child incubating hepatitis A may increase the risk of transmission.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Alanine Transaminase / analysis
  • Alkaline Phosphatase / blood
  • Aspartate Aminotransferases / analysis
  • Cross Infection / diagnosis*
  • Cross Infection / immunology
  • Diarrhea / complications
  • Disease Outbreaks*
  • Feces / analysis
  • Female
  • Hepatitis A / diagnosis*
  • Hepatitis A / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology
  • Immunoglobulin M / immunology
  • Infant
  • Liver / pathology

Substances

  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunoglobulin M
  • Aspartate Aminotransferases
  • Alanine Transaminase
  • Alkaline Phosphatase