Hepatitis A virus seropositivity among hospital and community healthcare workers in Israel-the role of occupation, demography and socioeconomic background.
Hospital and community-clinic workers were tested for hepatitis A virus antibodies (HAV)-IgG to identify variables associated with presence of (HAV-IgG) and to determine whether sociodemographic background may explain all differences in HAV seropositivty among healthcare workers. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify variable associated with HAV-immunity. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that HAV-seroprevalence correlated significantly (P<0.01) with age, siblings, residence in rural areas and origin. Nurse aides had an increased risk for HAV seropositivity (OR=5.04; 95% CI: 1.49-17.08) whereas physicians had a lower risk (OR=0.54: 95% CI: 0.30-0.98). Age and socioeconomic background were independently correlated with HAV immunity but did not explain all difference in HAV-seroprevalence. The higher susceptibility and elevated incidence of hepatitis A amongst physicians, prioritize primary prevention in this group.
Chodick
G
G
Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. chodick@post.tau.ac.il
Ashkenazi
S
S
Aloni
H
H
Peled
T
T
Lerman
Y
Y
D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003153:Community Health Services; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D017053:Infection Control; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D009790:Occupations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors