Prevention of hepatitis A virus infection

Hepatitis A virus infection is major cause of acute hepatitis in the United States, accounting for approximately 75,000 cases of clinical illness each year. These infections occur among persons in every age group and are associated with a variety of exposures related to fecal-oral transmission. Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved licensure of two inactivated hepatitis A vaccines. Both vaccines are highly immunogenic and have been licensed in pediatric and adult formulations. The prevention of hepatitis A virus infection is directly related to many aspects of family practice, and family physicians may see patients in a variety of settings that warrant administration of hepatitis A vaccine. Groups for whom vaccination is currently recommended include international travelers, children in communities with high rates of hepatitis A virus infection, men who have sex with men, Illicit drug users, patients with chronic liver disease and persons with clotting factor disorders.