Preventing Perinatal Hepatitis B Transmission
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- Screen all women early in pregnancy for HBsAg. If the woman's lifestyle or clinical symptoms are suspicious of acute hepatitis, additional HBsAg serology should be performed later in the pregnancy.
- Report all HBsAg-positive women to your local health department, even if you think they have been reported before.
- Document the results of the HBsAg serology in the patient's prenatal record, hospital chart, and in the patient's immunization record card. The Oregon Public Health Division Immunization Program can provide cards to be used for this purpose at no charge.
- Provide educational materials to women determined to be HBsAg-positive.
Materials are available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
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- Administer hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) and HBV vaccine at birth to all infants born to carrier mothers. The HBV vaccine should also be administered at 1 and 6 months of age.
- Post-vaccination serology should be completed 3 to 9 months after the final dose of vaccine. Document in the patient's chart and personal immunization record.
- Susceptible household members and other close contacts should also be vaccinated. State-supplied vaccine is available for these clients.
- Educate HBsAg-positive women.