Hepatitis A Information for Health Professionals

• Symptoms of hepatitis A may begin with a prodrome that lasts one to seven days, including:
  • Fever
  • Malaise
  • Anorexia
  • Nausea
  • Abdominal pain
• Adults may then develop jaundice, dark urine, pale stools, puritis, and hepatomegaly. Fulminant hepatitis and liver failure are uncommon but can occur.
• Children are usually asymptomatic or have a very mild infection. Adults tend to present with more severe disease.

• Humans are the main reservoir for HAV. Transmission occurs predominantly via the fecal-oral route.
• HAV can be acquired by:
  • Direct contact with infected individuals
  • Ingestion of contaminated food and/or water
  • Sexual activity that includes direct oral-anal contact
  • Drug-sharing (including intravenous drug use)
  • Bloodborne transmission is less common
• The incubation period is 15 to 50 days (on average it is 28 to 30 days).
• Persons with HAV are infectious from two weeks before the onset of clinical illness to one week after the onset of jaundice.

All patients with suspected HAV should have confirmatory serologic testing (both anti-HAV IgM and IgG):

• IgM antibodies are detectable five to 10 days after infection is acquired.
• IgM antibodies indicate acute infection; they can be falsely positive if patients have been recently vaccinated (within two weeks).
• The presence of IgG antibodies indicates immunity/previous infection.

• Patient education should emphasize:
  • Proper hand hygiene practices
  • Limiting food-handling activities and sharing of common food items during the infectious period
  • Availability of post-exposure prophylaxis for exposed contacts
• Any individual with suspected or confirmed HAV who is employed in one of the following areas should be advised to refrain from these activities until the diagnosis is ruled out:
  • Food handlers
  • Childcare staff or attendees
  • Health care workers
• An occupational history is critical for anyone with suspected HAV.
• If HAV is confirmed, the infected individual should not return to these activities until 14 days after the onset of symptoms, or seven days after the onset of jaundice, whichever is earlier.
• Infection prevention and control (IPAC) considerations for inpatients:
  • Adults with hepatitis A infection should be managed using routine practices.
  • Children and incontinent or non-compliant adults should be managed using contact precautions and in a single room.
  • Newborns: consider contact precautions for the duration of hospital stay, otherwise one week from symptom onset.

• An inactivated hepatitis A vaccine is available and is recommended by the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) for several groups. Two doses of vaccine provides lifelong immunity.
• In Ontario, the hepatitis A vaccine is only publicly funded for certain non-immune, high-risk individuals including:
  • People who use drugs (including injectable and non-injectable drugs)
  • Men who have sex with men (MSM)
  • Individuals with chronic liver disease (including hepatitis B and hepatitis C infections)
• Vaccine for persons in these groups can be ordered through Toronto Public Health.
• After natural infection and the development of IgG antibodies, immunity is lifelong.

• Toronto Public Health will provide health care providers with post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for contacts as indicated.
• PEP consists of one dose of hepatitis A vaccine (combined vaccines are not recommended), immunoglobulin or both.
• One dose of hepatitis vaccine is indicated for healthy children over six months of age and adults.
• Immunoglobulin should be provided, in addition to hepatitis A vaccine, for:
  • Adults over 50 years
  • Immunocompromised patients
  • Patients with chronic liver disease
• Infants less than six months should receive immunoglobulin only.
• PEP should be provided as soon as possible and within 14 days of exposure.

For Health Professionals

• Ontario Ministry of Health (MOH), Infectious Diseases Protocol
• Provincial Infectious Diseases Advisory Committee (PIDAC), Best Practices in IPAC
• PIDAC, Hepatitis A Post-Exposure Prophylaxis
• PIDAC, Routine Practices and Additional Precautions in All Health Care Settings
• Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), Hepatitis A Vaccines: Canadian Immunization Guide
• PHAC, Hepatitis A
• Public Health Ontario (PHO), Food Safety
• PHO, Questions & Answers – Public Health Management of Hepatitis A
• Toronto Public Health (TPH), Online Vaccine Order Form

For Patients, Caregivers and the General Public

• TPH, Hepatitis A
• TPH, Hepatitis A Vaccine