Immunisation of babies of women who screen positive for hepatitis B.
Pregnant women from countries with high prevalence rates of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection may have significant HBV DNA levels despite being hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) negative and having antibody to HBeAg (anti-HBe positive). It is suggested that their babies, following delivery, should be given hepatitis B specific immunoglobulin (HBIG) in addition to hepatitis B vaccine in order to ensure their protection against infection.
Holtby
I
I
County Durham and Tees Valley Health Protection Unit, Poole House, Stokesley Road, Middlesbrough TS7 0NJ. ian.holtby@tees-shs.nhs.uk
McCarron
B
B
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018579:Patient Selection; D011247:Pregnancy
D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D007136:Immunoglobulins; C045213:hepatitis B hyperimmune globulin