Evaluation of occupational transmission of hepatitis A virus among wastewater workers.
To provide information concerning potential occupational transmission of hepatitis A virus (HAV) among wastewater workers in a large city in the United States, a cross-sectional survey was performed using a saliva test to detect antibodies to HAV (anti-HAV). Fifty-nine (20%) of 302 participants tested positive for anti-HAV. After controlling for the confounding effects of age and race, wastewater work was not significantly associated with an increase in the prevalence of anti-HAV (prevalence ratio = 1.3; 95% confidence interval 0.7 to 2.4). Additionally, when examining only the wastewater workers, no statistically significant occupational risk factors for anti-HAV were identified. The results of this survey are consistent with the position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding groups at risk for HAV infection.
Trout
D
D
Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluation and Field Studies, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226, USA.
Mueller
C
C
Venczel
L
L
Krake
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000635:transmission*; D017957:Hepatitis A Virus, Human / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid
D000914:Antibodies, Viral