Interventions for Hepatitis A Infected Food Handlers in Canada
Author Information
Author(s): Tricco Andrea C, Pham Ba, Duval Bernard, De Serres Gaston, Gilca Vladimir, Vrbova Linda, Anonychuk Andrea, Krahn Murray, Moher David
Primary Institution: GlaxoSmithKline Canada
Hypothesis
What is the extent of viral transmission through food contamination and the scope of post-exposure prophylaxis interventions triggered by hepatitis A infected food handlers in Canada?
Conclusion
Infected food handlers with hepatitis A virus requiring public notification are not infrequent in Canada, and published data severely underestimated the burden of post-exposure prophylaxis intervention.
Supporting Evidence
- Only 12.5% of incidents were described in published reports, indicating significant underreporting.
- Six of the 16 incidents required large post-exposure prophylaxis interventions to immunize an average of 5000 individuals.
- Secondary transmission was low in most cases, likely due to timely interventions.
Takeaway
In Canada, some food workers can spread hepatitis A, and we need better ways to track these cases to keep people safe.
Methodology
A systematic review of incidents involving infected food handlers was conducted using MEDLINE, EMBASE, and news repositories to identify cases and evaluate public health interventions.
Potential Biases
The reliance on published data may lead to underestimation of incidents and interventions.
Limitations
The study only included incidents with public health notifications, which may not represent all cases, and data was often sparse and poorly reported.
Participant Demographics
The study involved incidents from various food establishments across Canada, including restaurants and grocery stores.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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