Increased Risk of Hepatitis E in Sewage Workers from India

Considering feco-oral transmission of hepatitis E virus (HEV), the risk of the infection was assessed among sewage workers. On the basis the close contact with sewage, the participants (n = 147) were divide into sewage workers (n = 92) and others (n = 55); none used persona protective equipment (eg,...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of occupational and environmental medicine 2003-11, Vol.45 (11), p.1167-1170
Main Authors: Vaidya, Sunil R., Tilekar, Bipin N., Walimbe, Atul M., Arankalle, Vidya A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Biological and medical sciences
Case-Control Studies
disease transmission
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Female
Health risk assessment
Hepatitis
Hepatitis Antibodies - blood
hepatitis E
Hepatitis E - etiology
Hepatitis E - immunology
Hepatitis E virus
Hepatitis E virus - immunology
Human viral diseases
Humans
India
Infectious diseases
Male
Medical sciences
Occupational Exposure - adverse effects
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Risk Factors
Sewage - adverse effects
Sewage disposal
Social Class
Viral diseases
Viral hepatitis
working conditions
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Considering feco-oral transmission of hepatitis E virus (HEV), the risk of the infection was assessed among sewage workers. On the basis the close contact with sewage, the participants (n = 147) were divide into sewage workers (n = 92) and others (n = 55); none used persona protective equipment (eg, coveralls, boots, gloves) Age-matched individuals from lower socioeconomic status and without any exposure to sewage were used as controls. IgG-anti-HEV positivity in enzyme-linke immunosorbent assay was significantly higher (P < 0.01) among staff members (83/147, 56.5%) than the controls (19%). A significant rise in anti-HEV positivity (P < 0.05) was recorded in sewage workers working for >5 years. Multivariate regression analysis identified contact with sewage as the independent variable associated with anti-HEV positivity. Strict adherence to good working practices must take top priority for protection of these workers from sewage pathogens.
ISSN:1076-2752
1536-5948
DOI:10.1097/01.jom.0000088874.43855.2f