title: Prevention of nosocomial viral hepatitis, type B (hepatitis B).
abstract: Nosocomial viral hepatitis, type B, is assuming increasing importance in the United States. The keystone to an effective hepatitis control program is surveillance of patients and personnel, especially in high-risk areas, namely dialysis units, hematology-oncology units, and laboratories. Measures to control infection are outlined for specific areas of the hospital. Data currently available suggest that employees who have persisting hepatitis B surface antigen (HBSAg) need not be removed from their positions unless they have been proved to disseminate infection. Future investigations should include methods to study: [a] the mechanisms of nonpercutaneous spread of hepatitis B virus, [b] the role of the individual with persisting HBSAg in the dissemination of hepatitis B virus, [c] the efficacy of hepatitis B immune globulin in high-risk areas, and [d] the effectiveness of various chemical and physical procedures in use for inactivation of hepatitis B virus using animal model systems.
mesh_terms: D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004203:Disinfection; D005260:Female; D013502:General Surgery; D006266:Health Education; D006405:Hematology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D006757:Hospital Units; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007753:Laboratories; D009774:Obstetrics; D010336:Pathology; D010564:Personnel, Hospital; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000517:prevention & control; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D013242:Sterilization
chemical_list: D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D007136:Immunoglobulins