Hepatitis A Seropositivity among First-Year Students of the Medical University in Isfahan, Iran

Background: Students of medicine are prone to contact with various infectious agents such as hepatitis A virus (HAV). Infection with HAV may lead to morbidity and in rare cases, mortality. We evaluated the seroprevalence of HAV among 1st‑year medical students to assess the necessity of vaccination/preventive immunoglobulin in this at‑risk population. Methods: This cross‑sectional study was carried out in 2007 among 403 1st‑year medical students in Isfahan, Iran. Participants filled out a questionnaire including items on demographic characteristics, medical history, and hygiene. Then, the anti‑HAV IgG antibody was assessed using the ELISA method (Diagnostic Bioprobes, Dia‑Pro, Milan, Italy). Results: Among the 403 students invited to attend the study, 361 ones (89.5%) agreed to participate (61.1% female), with a mean age of 19.8±2.6 years. Of the participants, 272 (75.3%) students were seropositive. Seropositivity was not associated with gender (P=0.222), but was associated with the number of family members (P<0.001), residence place (P=0.003), age (P<0.001), and the type of drinking water (P=0.008). Conclusions: One of the four medical college students of our society is prone to hepatitis A infection. Accordingly, vaccination/preventive immunoglobulin is suggested for this population; however, whether a prior serological screening is cost‑effective needs further evaluation by epidemiologic data from our society.