Changing epidemiology of hepatitis A in the Bologna metropolitan area, northern Italy: importance of counselling and prophylactic measures for the male homo/bisexual population.
During a 6-year observational study, 122 cases of hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection were detected in Bologna, Italy, with a c. 300% increase in cases between 1999 and 2004. There were 104 cases (85.2%) in male adults, of whom nearly 70% had unprotected sexual contact as the probable risk-factor. There were increasing numbers of cases in immigrants between 1999 and 2004 (p 0.036), and concurrent cases of infection with human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B and C viruses and syphilis were also noted in adult males (p 0.0032). There is a need to re-emphasise targeted educational programmes and anti-HAV vaccination for at-risk subjects.
Manfredi
R
R
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Bologna 'Alma Mater Studiorum', S. Orsola Hospital, Bologna, Italy. manfredi@med.unibo.it
Calza
L
L
Chiodo
F
F
D000328:Adult; D001727:Bisexuality; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011634:Public Health; D012747:Sexual Partners; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data