scholarly journals Recent outbreaks of severe hepatitis A virus infections in Vienna

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Bauer ◽  
Anna Farthofer ◽  
David Chromy ◽  
Benedikt Simbrunner ◽  
Lisa Steininger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
General Hospital ◽  
Liver Dysfunction ◽  
Hepatitis A ◽  
Hepatitis A Virus ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Virus Infections ◽  
Young Males ◽  
Vienna General Hospital ◽  
Proportional Increase ◽  
Definition Of

Abstract To explore the epidemiology and clinical course of hepatitis A virus (HAV) infections at the Vienna General Hospital. We retrospectively identified patients who were tested positive for HAV-IgM at the Vienna General Hospital form Q1/2008 to Q3/2018. Our definition of severe HAV infection was AST and/or ALT > 5 × above the upper limit of normal (ULN); and liver dysfunction as (i) hepatic encephalopathy or ammonia > 100 μmol/L, (ii) coagulopathy with INR > 1.5, or (iii) jaundice with bilirubin > 5 mg/dL. A total of 578 HAV-IgM (+) were identified, including 31 (5.4%) and 38 (6.6%) without and with liver dysfunction, respectively. A proportional increase in severe HAV cases with and without liver dysfunction occurred in 2016/2017 with (21.5% (vs. 8.0% in the years before; p < 0.001). Thirty-seven (53.6%) patients with severe HAV were hospitalized, 6 (9%) required ICU support, and one patient received liver transplantation within 30 days. Patients with severe HAV and liver dysfunction were more often male (60.5 vs. 43.1%, p = 0.055) and younger (31.5 vs. 63 years, p < 0.001) as compared with other HAV-IgM (+) cases. The observed increase of severe HAV infections in Vienna in 2017 among young males, coincided with a multinational HAV outbreak among MSM. Our data suggests a higher likelihood of severe courses of hepatitis A in MSM. Vaccination against HAV should be recommended for risk groups.

Hepatitis A virus infections associated with clotting factor concentrate in the United States

Transfusion ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 573-579 ◽  
Author(s):  
JM Soucie ◽  
BH Robertson ◽  
BP Bell ◽  
KA McCaustland ◽  
BL Evatt
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Hepatitis A ◽  
Hepatitis A Virus ◽  
The United States ◽  
Clotting Factor ◽  
Virus Infections ◽  
Factor Concentrate

scholarly journals Hepatitis A virus infections, immunisations and demographic determinants in children and adolescents, Germany

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kai Michaelis ◽  
Christina Poethko-Müller ◽  
Ronny Kuhnert ◽  
Klaus Stark ◽  
Mirko Faber
Keyword(s):  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Hepatitis A ◽  
Hepatitis A Virus ◽  
Virus Infections

scholarly journals Susceptibility to Hepatitis A Virus Infection in the United States, 2007–2016

2020 ◽  
Vol 71 (10) ◽  
pp. e571-e579 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaoman Yin ◽  
Laurie Barker ◽  
Kathleen N Ly ◽  
Greta Kilmer ◽  
Monique A Foster ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Hepatitis A ◽  
Hepatitis A Virus ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
The United States ◽  
Poverty Level ◽  
Health And Nutrition ◽  
National Immunization ◽  
Vaccination Recommendations ◽  
Sex With Men

Abstract Background Despite national immunization efforts, including universal childhood hepatitis A (HepA) vaccination recommendations in 2006, hepatitis A virus (HAV)–associated outbreaks have increased in the United States. Unvaccinated or previously uninfected persons are susceptible to HAV infection, yet the susceptibility in the US population is not well known. Methods Using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007–2016 data, we estimated HAV susceptibility prevalence (total HAV antibody negative) among persons aged ≥2 years. Among US-born adults aged ≥20 years, we examined prevalence, predictors, and age-adjusted trends of HAV susceptibility by sociodemographic characteristics. We assessed HAV susceptibility and self-reported nonvaccination to HepA among risk groups and the “immunization cohort” (those born in or after 2004). Results Among US-born adults aged ≥20 years, HAV susceptibility prevalence was 74.1% (95% confidence interval, 72.9–75.3%) during 2007–2016. Predictors of HAV susceptibility were age group 30–49 years, non-Hispanic white/black, 130% above the poverty level, and no health insurance. Prevalences of HAV susceptibility and nonvaccination to HepA, respectively, were 72.9% and 73.1% among persons who reported injection drug use, 67.5% and 65.2% among men who had sex with men, 55.2% and 75.1% among persons with hepatitis B or hepatitis C, and 22.6% and 25.9% among the immunization cohort. Susceptibility and nonvaccination decreased over time among the immunization cohort but remained stable among risk groups. Conclusions During 2007–2016, approximately three-fourths of US-born adults remained HAV susceptible. Enhanced vaccination efforts are critically needed, particularly targeting adults at highest risk for HAV infection, to mitigate the current outbreaks.

Changing risk profile of hepatitis A in The Netherlands: a comparison of seroprevalence in 1995–1996 and 2006–2007

2011 ◽  
Vol 139 (8) ◽  
pp. 1172-1180 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. VERHOEF ◽  
H. J. BOOT ◽  
M. KOOPMANS ◽  
L. MOLLEMA ◽  
F. VAN DER KLIS ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
The Netherlands ◽  
Hepatitis A ◽  
Hepatitis A Virus ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Second World War ◽  
World War ◽  
Susceptible Population ◽  
Prophylactic Vaccination ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Second World

SUMMARYThe prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis A virus (HAV) was assessed in a nationwide sample (n=6229) in The Netherlands in 2006–2007, and compared to the seroprevalence in a similar study in 1995–1996 (n=7376). The overall seroprevalence increased from 34% in 1995–1996 to 39% in 2006–2007, mainly due to vaccination of travellers and an increased immigrant population. Risk factors remain travelling to, and originating from, endemic regions, and vaccination is targeted currently at these risk groups. Our results show a trend of increasing age of the susceptible population. These people would also benefit from HAV vaccination because they are likely to develop clinically serious symptoms after infection, and are increasingly at risk of exposure through imported viruses through foods or travellers. The cost-effectiveness of adding elderly people born after the Second World War as a target group for prophylactic vaccination to reduce morbidity and mortality after HAV infection should be assessed.

scholarly journals Hepatitis A Virus Infections in Urban Children—Are Preventive Opportunities Being Missed?

1997 ◽  
Vol 176 (6) ◽  
pp. 1610-1613 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan J. Ochnio ◽  
David W. Scheifele ◽  
Margaret Ho
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis A ◽  
Hepatitis A Virus ◽  
Urban Children ◽  
Virus Infections

scholarly journals Comparative hepatitis A seroepidemiology in 10 European countries

2012 ◽  
Vol 140 (12) ◽  
pp. 2172-2181 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. KURKELA ◽  
R. PEBODY ◽  
G. KAFATOS ◽  
N. ANDREWS ◽  
C. BARBARA ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Disease Burden ◽  
Hepatitis A ◽  
Hepatitis A Virus ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Vaccination Policy ◽  
Laboratory Results ◽  
Children And Young Adults ◽  
Middle Aged Adults ◽  
Local Laboratory

SUMMARYThe WHO recommends hepatitis A virus (HAV) immunization according to level of transmission and disease burden. We aimed to identify susceptible age groups by standardized serosurveys to inform HAV vaccination policy in participating countries: Belgium, Czech Republic, England, Finland, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Malta, Romania, and Slovakia. Each country tested national serum banks (n = 1854–6748), collected during 1996–2004, for anti-HAV antibodies. Local laboratory results were standardized to common units. Forty-one per cent of those aged <30 years and 6% of those aged ⩾30 years were susceptible to HAV in Romania; compared to 70–94% and 26–71%, respectively, elsewhere. Romania reported high HAV incidence in children and young adults. Other countries reported HAV disease primarily in older risk groups. The results suggest low level of HAV transmission in most of Europe. Romania, however, appeared as an area with intermediate transmission. Vaccination of risk groups in countries with high susceptibility of young and middle-aged adults needs to be continued.

scholarly journals Estimating the critical immunity threshold for preventing hepatitis A outbreaks in men who have sex with men

2015 ◽  
Vol 144 (7) ◽  
pp. 1528-1537 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. G. REGAN ◽  
J. G. WOOD ◽  
C. BENEVENT ◽  
H. ALI ◽  
L. WATCHIRS SMITH ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Hepatitis A ◽  
Hepatitis A Virus ◽  
Reproduction Number ◽  
Vaccine Coverage ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Population Immunity ◽  
Sex With Men ◽  
The Basic Reproduction Number

SUMMARYSeveral outbreaks of hepatitis A in men who have sex with men (MSM) were reported in the 1980s and 1990s in Australia and other countries. An effective hepatitis A virus (HAV) vaccine has been available in Australia since 1994 and is recommended for high-risk groups including MSM. No outbreaks of hepatitis A in Australian MSM have been reported since 1996. In this study, we aimed to estimate HAV transmissibility in MSM populations in order to inform targets for vaccine coverage in such populations. We used mathematical models of HAV transmission in a MSM population to estimate the basic reproduction number (R0) and the probability of an HAV epidemic occurring as a function of the immune proportion. We estimated a plausible range forR0of 1·71–3·67 for HAV in MSM and that sustained epidemics cannot occur once the proportion immune to HAV is greater than ~70%. To our knowledge this is the first estimate ofR0and the critical population immunity threshold for HAV transmission in MSM. As HAV is no longer endemic in Australia or in most other developed countries, vaccination is the only means of maintaining population immunity >70%. Our findings provide impetus to promote HAV vaccination in high-risk groups such as MSM.

scholarly journals Hepatitis A virus infections in travelers, 1988–2004

2006 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
pp. 216-217
Author(s):  
M. Mutsch ◽  
V.M. Spicher ◽  
C. Gut ◽  
R. Steffen
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis A ◽  
Hepatitis A Virus ◽  
Virus Infections
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