title: Hospital-acquired hepatitis a: report of an outbreak.
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.
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000032:analysis; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000032:analysis; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000150:complications; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005243:Feces / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000276:immunology; D007223:Infant; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase