Preventing hepatitis A and hepatitis B virus infections among men who have sex with men.
Hepatitis A and hepatitis B are 2 common sexually transmitted diseases that are preventable by vaccination. Men who have sex with men (MSM) are at increased risk of acquiring hepatitis A virus and hepatitis B virus through sexual exposure. Current guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that MSM receive immunizations against hepatitis A and hepatitis B. Many health care providers and most MSM are unaware of the risks and the potentially dangerous consequences posed by hepatitis A and B virus infection, and the MSM thus remain unvaccinated and unprotected from exposure to these viruses. It is important for health care providers to educate and vaccinate their at-risk male patients against hepatitis A and hepatitis B virus infections.
Kahn
James
J
Department of Medicine, Positive Health Program, University of California, San Francisco, and San Francisco General Hospital, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA. jkahn@php.ucsf.edu
D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D030041:Hepatitis A virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006716:Homosexuality; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014611:Vaccination
D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines