Hepatitis Gail Lupica PhD, rn, cne hepatitis

Hepatitis A

• Transmission: fecal/ oral route (infected human waste)
• Contaminated food& water (especially shellfish)
• May be transmitted sexually
• May be transmitted by someone with a sub clinical infection
• Can be destroyed by bleach and hot temps > 195 F.

Hepatitis A

• Incubation period: (time from infection to the time when symptoms appear)
• Short 2-6 weeks (15-50 days)
• Vaccine: yes “Havrix” and Vaqta- inactivtaes Hep A virus

Hepatitis A

• Immune serum globulin: effective
• (Provides passive immunity for up to 3 months)
• May give it before anticipated contact, or within first few days of exposure.
• Seriousness: No carrier or chronic state
• Rarely fulminant/deadly
• Dx: Anti – HAV antibodies are found

Hepatitis B

• Transmission: Infected blood, and body secretions
• sweat, tears, semen, vaginal secretions
• Persons at high risk include IV drug users, and fetus of infected mothers.
• Health care workers are at high risk! Has a very high titer, which means it’s highly infectious!