Increased risk for hepatitis A among female day nursery workers in Belgium

To assess the risk for hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection in an occupational group potentially at risk for faeco-oral contact with very young children, a prevalence study of total anti-HAV antibodies (lgG/lgM) was conducted among 591 female employees in day nurseries in Flanders, Belgium, and in a reference group of 560 healthy female blood donors, matched for age. Analysis was also performed on formally exposed persons ( n =413) versus blood donors ( n =560). The overall prevalence of HAV markers was 48.4% (95% Cl: 44.2–52.5) in exposed day nursery personnel, compared with 42.9% (95% Cl: 38.7–... Mehr ...