Survey of perinatal hepatitis B virus transmission after Korean National Prevention Program in a tertiary hospital.
OBJECTIVE
The Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in South Korea have been organizing hepatitis B virus (HBV) vertical infection prevention projects since July 2002. In this single-institute study, the results of surveys conducted in target mothers who delivered babies in a tertiary hospital were investigated and analyzed.


METHODS
Of the 9,281 mothers and their 9,824 neonates born between July 2002 and December 2012, 308 hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive mothers and their 319 neonates were selected for this study, and their records were analyzed retrospectively.


RESULTS
A total of 308 mothers were HBsAg-positive, with an HBV prevalence of 3.32% (308/9,281). There were 319 neonates born to these HBsAg-positive mothers, and 252 were confirmed to as either HBsAg-positive or -negative. Four were confirmed as HBsAg-positive, with a 1.59% (4/252) HBV vertical infection rate. All the mothers of neonates who had an HBV vertical infection were hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive. Among the HBsAg-positive neonates, three were HBeAg-positive and had an HBV DNA titer of 1.0 × 10(8) copies/mL.


CONCLUSIONS
The HBV prevalence of mothers was 3.32% (308/9,281), and their vertical infection rate was 1.59% (4/252). Thus, the South Korean HBV vertical infection prevention projects are effective, and, accordingly, HBV prevalence in South Korea is expected to decrease continuously.
Gachon University School of Medicine, Incheon, Korea.
Jae Hoon
JH
Kim
Department of Internal Medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Incheon, Korea.
Ju Seung
JS
Kim
Department of Internal Medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Incheon, Korea.
Jong Joon
JJ
Lee
Department of Internal Medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Incheon, Korea.
Jung Ho
JH
Kim
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Incheon, Korea.
Suk Young
SY
Kim
Department of Internal Medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Incheon, Korea.
Young Kul
YK
Jung
Department of Internal Medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Incheon, Korea.
Oh Sang
OS
Kwon
Department of Internal Medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Incheon, Korea.
Yun Soo
YS
Kim
Department of Internal Medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Incheon, Korea.
Duck Joo
DJ
Choi
Department of Internal Medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Incheon, Korea.
Ju Hyun
JH
Kim
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control; D009313:National Health Programs; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D019562:Viral Load
D015415:Biomarkers; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens
Hepatitis B; Korea; Vaccination; Vertical infection transmission