Hepatitis A Seroprevalance and Related Risk Factors in HIV/AIDS Patients

Objective: Hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection is usually transmitted via fecal-oral route with contaminated food or water intake. However, there are also transmissions and outbreaks among men who have sex with men (MSM) through oral-anal sex. The aim of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence of HAV and related risk factors among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals under our follow-up. Methods: 927 HIV-infected patients followed in the Infectious Diseases Outpatient Clinic between January 2015 and July 2019 were included in the study. The demographic findings and laboratory results of the patients were retrospectively reviewed from their files. Results: Of all patients, 463 (49.9%) were MSM, 403 (43.5%) had heterosexual contact, and 61 (6.6%) had unknown sexual orientation. The mean age of the patients was 35.75 +/- 11.22 years and 90.2% were male. 788 patients whose complete HAV serology data could be reached were included in the statistical evaluation. Anti-HAV IgG positivity was present in 590 (74.8%) patients. While 45% of 590 patients with anti-HAV IgG positivity were MSM, 69.6% of 198 seronegative patients were MSM. Seronegativity was found to be significantly higher in young, high educated and MSM patients (p<0.001). Conclusions: Since fecal-oral route is the main transmission route of HAV infection, prevention of viral contamination of food, water and environment is the most important control method. However, it is also known that being MSM is an increased risk for HIV infection and there are outbreaks among them. Identifying seronegative groups especially among HIV-infected individuals is important to reduce mortality and morbidity. The results support the fact that the young adults, especially MSM group in our country, have increased risk for HAV infection and need to be vaccinated routinely.