Safety and Infection Control Q 2

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A nurse is assessing a clinic patient with a diagnosis of hepatitis A. Which of the following is the most likely route of transmission?

  

     A. Sexual contact with an infected partner

     B. Contaminated food

     C. Blood transfusion

     D. Illegal drug use

    

    

Correct Answer: B. Contaminated food

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Hepatitis A is the only type that is transmitted by the fecal-oral route through contaminated food. HAV is a single-stranded, positive-sense, linear RNA enterovirus of the Picornaviridae family. In humans, viral replication depends on hepatocyte uptake and synthesis, and assembly occurs exclusively in the liver cells. Virus acquisition results almost exclusively from ingestion (eg, fecal-oral transmission)

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Option A: Hepatitis B infection, caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV), is commonly transmitted via body fluids such as blood, semen, and vaginal secretions. [1] Consequently, sexual contact, accidental needle sticks or sharing of needles, blood transfusions, and organ transplantation are routes for HBV infection.

Option C: Before widespread screening of the blood supply in 1992, hepatitis C was also spread through blood transfusions and organ transplants. Now, the risk of transmission to recipients of blood or blood products is extremely low.

Option D: Today, most people become infected with hepatitis B, C, or D by sharing needles, syringes, or any other equipment used to prepare and inject drugs.

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