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.

• Vaccine History
• General Recommendations
• Vaccine Guidelines
• Vaccine Safety
• Other Measures
• Other Hepatitis Vaccines

• Guidelines for Healthcare Professionals
• Non-Responders
• Post-Exposure Treatment

Read our

Summary of HBV Postexposure Guidelines from the CDC.

Source:
"Immunization of Health-Care Workers: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the Hospital Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee", MMWR, December 26, 1997, Vol. 46(RR-18):1-42.

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