Hepatitis A prophylaxis is recommended for which high-risk group?

Hepatitis A prophylaxis is recommended for which high-risk group?

• A. School-aged children
• B. Homosexual men
• C. Healthy adult men who exercise
• D. People with no travel plans

Answer: (B)

Hepatitis A is spread mainly through the fecal-oral route, so groups with higher exposure to contaminated material or close-contact sexual practices have the greatest need for vaccination. Homosexual men are at higher risk for HAV infection because transmission can occur during sexual activities that involve close contact and fecal-oral exposure, and outbreaks have been observed in this population. Vaccination to prevent HAV is therefore recommended for this group. The other options don’t represent groups with an inherent, elevated risk for HAV compared with this group—routine vaccination covers school-aged children, healthy adult men who exercise don’t have a specific HAV risk, and not traveling isn’t by itself an increased risk unless other exposures exist.

Hepatitis A is spread mainly through the fecal-oral route, so groups with higher exposure to contaminated material or close-contact sexual practices have the greatest need for vaccination. Homosexual men are at higher risk for HAV infection because transmission can occur during sexual activities that involve close contact and fecal-oral exposure, and outbreaks have been observed in this population. Vaccination to prevent HAV is therefore recommended for this group. The other options don’t represent groups with an inherent, elevated risk for HAV compared with this group—routine vaccination covers school-aged children, healthy adult men who exercise don’t have a specific HAV risk, and not traveling isn’t by itself an increased risk unless other exposures exist.