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Prevention and Vaccination Donate Now

Post-Exposure Treatment

Hepatitis B infection is a well-recognized occupational risk for health care professionals. The good news is that there is a safe vaccine to prevent infection, as well as effective postexposure protocols to minimize the risk of infection.

Key Points

  • Post exposure prophylaxis with hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) and/or hepatitis B vaccine series should be considered for occupational exposures after evaluation of the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) status of the source, and the vaccination and vaccine-response status of the exposed person.
  • Neither pregnancy nor lactation should be considered a contraindication to vaccination of women. HBIG is not contraindicated for pregnant or lactating women.
  • Employers are required to establish exposure-control plans that include postexposure follow-up for their employees and to comply with incident reporting requirements mandated by the 1992 OSHA bloodborne pathogen standard.