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An audit of chronic hepatitis B contact tracing in metropolitan Western Australia

Lester Mascarenhas1, Donna B Mak

  • 1MBChB, General Practitioner (Refugee Health), ISIS Primary Care, Melbourne VIC; formerly Public Health Medical Registrar, Communicable Disease Control Directorate, Health Department of Western Australia, Perth, WA.

Australian Family Physician
|March 7, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Contact tracing for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) had a 75% success rate, with nurses achieving 100% success. Insufficient resources were a key barrier for general practitioners, highlighting the need for increased nursing involvement and public health unit support.

Area of Science:

  • Hepatology
  • Public Health
  • Infectious Disease Epidemiology

Background:

  • Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) poses a significant transmission risk.
  • Individuals in contact with CHB patients are a priority for testing and vaccination.
  • This audit assessed the effectiveness and challenges of CHB contact tracing.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the success rate of hepatitis B contact tracing.
  • To identify barriers encountered during the contact tracing process.
  • To explore strategies for improving contact tracing efficiency.

Main Methods:

  • An online survey distributed to 26 general practitioners (GPs).
  • Computer-assisted telephone interviews conducted with 40 CHB patients.
  • Data collected from CHB patients notified between September 2011 and September 2012.

Main Results:

  • Patients with CHB were often tasked with informing their own contacts (16/31).
  • Overall contact tracing success rate reached 75%.
  • Nurse-led tracing achieved 100% success, while GP-led tracing yielded 57% success. GPs cited insufficient resources as a major barrier.

Conclusions:

  • Enhancing contact tracing efforts by nurses can significantly improve success rates.
  • Continued support from public health units is crucial for managing complex CHB cases.
  • Reallocating contact tracing responsibilities may optimize outcomes.
Abstract

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