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Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction-Based Detection and Quantification of Hepatitis B Virus DNA
04:11

Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction-Based Detection and Quantification of Hepatitis B Virus DNA

Published on: December 15, 2023

Public health management of perinatal hepatitis B virus

Martha Kay Libbus1, Lynelle M Phillips

  • 1Sinclair School of Nursing, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA. libbusk@missouri.edu

Public Health Nursing (Boston, Mass.)
|July 4, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Infants born to hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive mothers can be protected with timely postexposure prophylaxis (PEP). Nurse case management (NCM) is crucial for ensuring PEP, but under-reporting of hepatitis B virus (HBV) cases poses a significant challenge.

Area of Science:

  • Hepatology
  • Public Health
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Infants born to HBsAg-positive mothers are at high risk for perinatal hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.
  • Postexposure prophylaxis (PEP), including HBV vaccine and Hepatitis B Immune Globulin, administered within 12 hours of birth offers 90% protection when maternal status is known.
  • Reporting of maternal HBsAg positivity or perinatal HBV is essential for initiating nurse case management (NCM).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To discuss public health measures for preventing perinatal HBV.
  • To present a case study assessing under-reporting of perinatal HBV.
  • To explore barriers to NCM and the importance of universal HBV vaccine birth dose.

Main Methods:

  • Review of public health measures for HBV prevention.
  • Case study utilizing a novel method to assess under-reporting of perinatal HBV.
  • Discussion of barriers to NCM and implications for public health nursing.

Main Results:

  • Perinatal HBV infection is significantly under-reported nationally due to varying state reporting laws.
  • NCM is the most effective strategy for ensuring at-risk infants receive PEP and follow-up serology.
  • A universal HBV vaccine birth dose is important for protecting infants with undetected or unreported cases.

Conclusions:

  • Effective public health strategies are needed to combat under-reporting of perinatal HBV.
  • Addressing barriers to NCM and promoting universal HBV vaccine birth dose are critical for preventing HBV transmission.
  • Public health nursing plays a vital role in managing and preventing perinatal HBV infections.

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