Sporadic acute hepatitis in hospital employees: mainly non-A, non-B type

Abstract

Eighty-two patients with sporadic acute viral hepatitis were detected at Okayama University Hospital between January 1982 and March 1989. Thirty of them had non-A, non-B hepatitis (NANBH); 20 had hepatitis A (HA); and 32 had hepatitis B (HB). Ten (33%) of NANBH, five (25%) of HA, and nine (28%) cases of HB were hospital employees. Two (20%) of 10 hospital employees with NANBH developed chronic hepatitis. Antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV, ELISA) was tested in 10 patients with NANBH (five hospital and five non-hospital employees). Forty percent of both hospital and non-hospital employees had anti-HCV. The percentage of hospital employees among patients with NANBH was similar to that of those among patients with HB. Therefore, it appears that NANBH as a disease entity may be a source of a significant occupational hazard in personnel who either examine or care for patients with hepatitis.