Transmission of hepatitis B virus to classroom contacts of mentally retarded carriers
B. Breuer, S. M. Friedman, E. S. Millner, M. A. Kane, R. H. Snyder and J. E. Maynard
The risk of the spread of hepatitis B virus infection from
deinstitutionalized, mentally retarded carriers to pupil and staff school
contacts in the New York City public school system was measured
serologically in a three-phase study from 1978 to 1982. In the third phase,
undertaken in 1982, blood samples were drawn and questionnaires were
completed on students and staff tested in either of the first two phases
and on comparison groups with intermediate and no known school exposure to
deinstitutionalized carriers. Univariate and logistic regression analyses
revealed that staff and pupils with a history of classroom exposure to a
hepatitis B virus carrier had significantly increased prevalences of
hepatitis B virus infection (13.4%, odds ratio = 1.9; 9.3%, odds ratio =
2.5, respectively). Similarly, yearly seroconversion rates of 1.3% and
0.67% indicate that staff and, to a lesser extent, pupils are at increased
risk of infection.
