title: CE: Viral Hepatitis: New U.S. Screening Recommendations, Assessment Tools, and Treatments.
abstract: Over the past 15 years, the incidences of hepatitis A and B virus infection in the United States have declined significantly. By contrast, the incidence of hepatitis C virus infection, formerly stable or in decline, has increased by 75% since 2010. Suboptimal therapies of the past, insufficient provider awareness, and low screening rates have hampered efforts to improve diagnosis, management, and treatment of viral hepatitis. New screening recommendations, innovations in assessment and treatment, and an updated action plan from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) seem likely to lead to significant progress in the coming years. This article reviews the epidemiology, natural history, and diagnosis of viral hepatitis; discusses new screening recommendations, assessment tools, and treatments; and outlines the HHS action plan, focusing on the role of nurses in prevention and treatment.
authors.affiliation: Corinna Dan is viral hepatitis policy advisor, Michelle Moses-Eisenstein is a public health analyst, and Ronald O. Valdiserri is director, all in the Office of HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Policy, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC. Contact author: Corinna Dan, corinna.dan@hhs.gov. The authors and planners have disclosed no potential conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise.
authors.forename: Corinna
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dan
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moses-Eisenstein
authors.forename: Ronald O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Valdiserri
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000517:prevention & control; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018450:Disease Progression; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000592:standards*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000592:standards; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012698:Serologic Tests; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000517:prevention & control; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014483:United States Dept. of Health and Human Services / Q000592:standards
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines