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Observational Study
. 2021 Feb 13;223(3):426-434.
doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiaa636.

Hepatitis A Person-to-Person Outbreaks: Epidemiology, Morbidity Burden, and Factors Associated With Hospitalization-Multiple States, 2016-2019

Megan G Hofmeister  1 , Jian Xing  1 , Monique A Foster  1 , Ryan J Augustine  1 , Cole Burkholder  2 , Jim Collins  2 , Shannon McBee  3 , Erica D Thomasson  3   4 , Douglas Thoroughman  4   5 , Mark K Weng  1 , Philip R Spradling  1
Affiliations
Observational Study

Hepatitis A Person-to-Person Outbreaks: Epidemiology, Morbidity Burden, and Factors Associated With Hospitalization-Multiple States, 2016-2019

Megan G Hofmeister et al. J Infect Dis. .

Abstract

Background: Since 2016, the United States has experienced person-to-person hepatitis A outbreaks unprecedented in the vaccine era. The proportion of cases hospitalized in these outbreaks exceeds historical national surveillance data.

Methods: We described the epidemiology, characterized the reported increased morbidity, and identified factors associated with hospitalization during the outbreaks by reviewing a 10% random sample of outbreak-associated hepatitis A cases in Kentucky, Michigan, and West Virginia-3 heavily affected states. We calculated descriptive statistics and conducted age-adjusted log-binomial regression analyses to identify factors associated with hospitalization.

Results: Participants in the random sample (n = 817) were primarily male (62.5%) with mean age of 39.0 years; 51.8% were hospitalized. Among those with available information, 73.2% reported drug use, 14.0% were experiencing homelessness, 29.7% were currently or recently incarcerated, and 61.6% were epidemiologically linked to a known outbreak-associated case. Residence in Michigan (adjusted risk ratio [aRR] = 1.8), being a man who has sex with men (aRR = 1.5), noninjection drug use (aRR = 1.3), and homelessness (aRR = 1.3) were significantly (P < .05) associated with hepatitis A-related hospitalization.

Conclusions: Our findings support current Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommendations to vaccinate all persons who use drugs, men who have sex with men, and persons experiencing homelessness against hepatitis A.

Keywords: United States; disease outbreaks; hepatitis A; hospitalization; vaccine-preventable diseases.

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Conflict of interest statement

Potential conflicts of interest. All authors: No reported conflicts of interest. All authors have submitted the ICMJE Form for Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest.

Comment in

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