Acute hepatitis A infection in a postoperative patient: A tropical nosocomial infection to be mentioned

Dear Sir,

Acute hepatitis A infection is a common infectious hepatitis that can be seen around the world. In the tropical developing country with poor sanitation, the infection can be frequently seen. The food sanitation is the key factor for successful control of the disease. ^[1] Of interest, in the hospital settings, which should be the place with good infectious control, the report of disease can be seen. ^[2],[3] Here, the authors experience a case of a postoperative patient who admitted to a first class ward in a hospital. The patient develops acute illness with fever, nausea, vomiting, and subcostal abdominal pain. Complete workup is done and it reveals that the seropostivity for hepatitis A can be seen. There is no other abnormal laboratory result. Further history taking identify the possible contributing etiology as contaminated food served in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the hospital. In fact, the hepatitis A virus is an important nosocomial pathogen in ICU. ^[4] Nevertheless, the problem can be seen in any wards of the hospital (such as delivery room, ^[5] neonatal unit, ^[6] etc.) This case can be a good example showing poor standard of the hospital in the tropical world and the promotion of the food sanitation is required. The authors recommend that any hospital should implement the protocol for routine investigation of food contamination and providing vaccination for the worker for prevention of nosocomial spreading of infectious disease.

Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None

DOI: 10.4103/1755-6783.133755