A nurse developed fatigue and fever after caring for a hepatitis patient. What finding is likely in this nurse?

The presence of elevated AST and ALT levels in the nurse is an indicative biomarker of liver inflammation or damage, which is commonly associated with viral hepatitis. When a healthcare worker cares for a patient with hepatitis, there is a possibility of occupational exposure to the hepatitis virus, especially if proper precautions were not followed.

Hepatitis viruses, such as Hepatitis A, B, or C, can lead to the inflammation of the liver, resulting in an increase in the liver enzymes alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). These enzymes are released into the bloodstream when liver cells are damaged. Therefore, the nurse's development of fatigue and fever, coupled with elevated liver enzymes, suggests the possibility of a viral hepatitis infection, manifesting as an acute hepatitis condition.

The other options do not align with the commonly expected clinical findings in this scenario. Normal levels of AST and ALT would suggest no liver involvement, decreased anti-HBs levels are not typically related to acute hepatitis infection, and a negative HBsAg would indicate that the hepatitis B virus is not present in the bloodstream, which would not correspond with the symptoms and elevated liver enzymes expected in a recent infection.