title: Challenges in warranting access to prophylaxis and therapy for hepatitis B virus infection.
abstract: Despite an available vaccine and efficient treatment for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, chronic HBV infection still remains a major global threat, and one of the top 20 causes of human mortality worldwide. One of the major challenges in controlling HBV infection is the high number of undiagnosed chronic carriers and the lack of access to prophylaxis and treatment in several parts of the world. We discuss relevant barriers that need to be overcome to achieve global control of HBV infection and make eradication possible. Most important, vaccination must be scaled-up to lower the risk of vertical transmission and decrease the number of new infections, and comprehensive screening programs must be linked to care to obtain a better rate of diagnosis and treatment. This can probably only be achieved if sustainable funding is available. We therefore emphasize the importance of making the management of viral hepatitis a global health priority.
authors.affiliation: Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research GmbH, Braunschweig, Germany.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Debarry
authors.affiliation: Hannover Medical School, Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover, Germany.|German Centre for Infection Research, Partner-site Hannover-Braunschweig, Germany.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cornberg
authors.affiliation: Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research GmbH, Braunschweig, Germany.|Hannover Medical School, Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover, Germany.|German Centre for Infection Research, Partner-site Hannover-Braunschweig, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Manns
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D014943:Global Health; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006292:Health Priorities; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008403:Mass Screening; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines
keywords: Hepatitis B; access to prophylaxis and treatment; linkage to care; screen-and-treat-programs