Prevention of perinatal transmission of the hepatitis B virus. Outcome of infants in a community prevention program.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the outcome of infants born to hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive mothers who received prenatal and infant care in a large, public health care system.


METHODS
Follow-up of a cohort of infants born to HBsAg-positive mothers.


METHODS
Large, urban hospital providing prenatal care and obstetric services to county health departments.


METHODS
Forty-two infants born to HBsAg-positive women.


METHODS
Prenatal testing of women and immunoprophylaxis of infants with hepatitis B immune globulin at birth and hepatitis B vaccine at birth and ages 1 and 6 months.


RESULTS
All 42 infants received hepatitis B immune globulin and the first dose of vaccine. Of forty-one infants (98%) who received the second dose of vaccine, 37 received it by age 4 months. Thirty-two infants (76%) completed the three-dose vaccine series by age 12 months, and 34 infants (81%) completed the series by age 18 months. The rate of completion of the hepatitis B vaccine series was comparable to that of infants receiving the third dose of diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus vaccine. Of 26 infants who completed the hepatitis B vaccine series and had follow-up serologic testing, 24 (92%) had adequate levels of antibody to HBsAg. Only one infant who did not complete the vaccine series had serologic evidence of hepatitis B virus infection. No infant was HBsAg-positive.


CONCLUSIONS
Public programs serving urban populations can effectively deliver hepatitis B immunoprophylaxis to infants born to HBsAg-positive mothers.
Niu
M T
MT
Hepatitis Branch, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, GA 30333.
Targonski
P V
PV
Stoll
B J
BJ
Albert
G P
GP
Margolis
H S
HS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005845:Georgia; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006786:Hospitals, Urban; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization / Q000592:standards*; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000592:standards; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D015397:Program Evaluation; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use
D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines