Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dzt6s Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T08:22:57.423Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

A Nosocomial and Occupational Cluster of Hepatitis A Virus Infection in a Pediatric Ward

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Nicola Petrosillo*
Affiliation:
National Institute for Infectious Diseases, “Lazzaro Spallanzani” IRCCS, Rome, Italy
Barbara Raffaele
Affiliation:
National Institute for Infectious Diseases, “Lazzaro Spallanzani” IRCCS, Rome, Italy
Lorena Martini
Affiliation:
National Institute for Infectious Diseases, “Lazzaro Spallanzani” IRCCS, Rome, Italy
Emanuele Nicastri
Affiliation:
National Institute for Infectious Diseases, “Lazzaro Spallanzani” IRCCS, Rome, Italy
Giuseppina Nurra
Affiliation:
National Institute for Infectious Diseases, “Lazzaro Spallanzani” IRCCS, Rome, Italy
Gianfranco Anzidei
Affiliation:
National Institute for Infectious Diseases, “Lazzaro Spallanzani” IRCCS, Rome, Italy
Giuseppe Ippolito
Affiliation:
National Institute for Infectious Diseases, “Lazzaro Spallanzani” IRCCS, Rome, Italy
*
2nd Infectious Diseases Division, National Institute for Infectious Diseases”, IRCCS, Via Portuense, 292, 00149 Rome, Italy

Abstract

We describe a cluster of acute hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection that involved two patients and one physician in the pediatric unit where two children with acute HAV infection had been housed. An interview with the unit personnel revealed several breaches in infection control measures and the lack of vaccination of healthcare workers against HAV.

Type
Concise Communications
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2002

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.McNeil, M, Hoy, JF, Richards, MJ, et al. Aetiology of fatal viral hepatitis in Melbourne: a retrospective study. Med J Aust 1984;141:637640.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
2.Burkholder, BT, Coronado, VG, Brown, J, et al. Nosocomial transmission of hepatitis A in a pediatric hospital traced to an anti-hepatitis A virus-negative patient with immunodeficiency. Pediatr Infect Dis J 1995;14:261266.Google Scholar
3.Jensenius, M, Ringertz, SH, Berild, D, Bell, H, Espinoza, R, Grinde, B. Prolonged nosocomial outbreak of hepatitis A arising from an alcoholic with pneumonia. Scand J Infect Dis. 1998;30:119123.Google Scholar
4.Klein, BS, Michaels, JA, Rytel, MW, Berg, KG, Davis, GP. Nosocomial hepatitis A: a multinursery outbreak in Wisconsin. JAMA 1984;252:27162721.Google Scholar
5.Watson, JC, Fleming, DW, Borella, AJ, Olcott, ES, Conrad, RE, Baron, RC. Vertical transmission of hepatitis A resulting in an outbreak in a neonatal intensive care unit. J Infect Dis 1993;167:567571.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6.Lee, KK, Vargo, L, Fernando, L. Transfusion-acquired hepatitis A outbreak from fresh frozen plasma in a neonatal intensive care unit. Pediatr Infect Dis J 1992;11:122123.Google Scholar
7.Reed, CM, Gustafson, TL, Siegel, J, Duer, P. Nosocomial transmission of hepatitis A from a hospital-acquired case. Pediatr Infect Dis J 1984;3:300303.Google Scholar
8.Eisenstein, AB, Aach, RD, Jacobson, W, et al. An epidemic of infectious hepatitis in a general hospital: probable transmission by contaminated orange juice. JAMA 1963;185:171174.Google Scholar
9.Rosenblum, LS, Villarino, ME, Mnainan, OV, et al. Hepatitis A outbreak in a neonatal intensive care unit: risk factors for transmission and evidence of prolonged viral excretion among preterm infants. J Infect Dis 1991;164:476482.Google Scholar
10.Stroffolini, T, D'Amelio, R, Matricardi, PM, et al. The changing epidemiology of hepatitis A in Italy. Ital J Gastroenterol 1993;25:372374.Google Scholar