SEROPREVALENCE OF VIRAL-HEPATITIS-A IN AM IENS-UNIVERSITY-HOSPITAL

Objectives and methods. - The epidemiology of viral hepatitis A has be en evolved in the past few years, resulting in an increasing number of people without immunity to this virus. Health care workers are usuall y considered to be a group at risk of contamination by hepatitis A. A sero-epidemiologic study was performed in 525 members of the Pediatry, Gastroenterology, Internal medicine, Digestive radiology, kitchen and maintenance department staffs in the Amiens University Hospital. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiology of hepatitis A and to estimate the level of occupational hazard it represents in the hosp ital. Results. - Age, low education level, country of origin in an end emic region and more than 2 siblings or children were significantly as sociated with the presence of anti-HAV antibodies. The prevalence of 5 0% was similar to that observed in other hospitals, but lower than tha t found in the general population. Seroprevalence was not higher in de partments exposed to stools (Pediatry, Digestive endoscopy and laborat ories) than in others. A higher rate of seroprevalence was observed in kitchen and maintenance staffs than in medical, laboratory and Radiol ogy staffs, in Internal medicine than in the Gastroenterology Departme nt, and in the laboratory than in Radiology Department. These differen ces disappeared after adjustment for extra professional parameters whi ch appeared to be most important for hepatitis A epidemiology. Conclus ions. - The hospital occupational hazard for hepatitis A virus did not seem higher than that observed in the general population.