Hepatitis B
Perinatal
Transmission
Hepatitis
B virus (HBV) infection in a pregnant woman poses a serious risk to her
infant at birth. Without postexposure immunoprophylaxis, approximately 40%
of infants born to HBV-infected mothers in the United States will develop
chronic HBV infection, approximately one-fourth of whom will eventually
die from chronic liver disease.Perinatal HBV transmission can be prevented by identifying HBV-infected (i.e., hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg]-positive) pregnant women and providing hepatitis B immune globulin and hepatitis B vaccine to their infants within 12 hours of birth.
Preventing perinatal HBV transmission is an integral part of the national strategy to eliminate hepatitis B in the United States. National guidelines call for the following:
- Universal screening of pregnant women for HBsAg during each pregnancy
- Case management of HBsAg-positive mothers and their infants
- Provision of immunoprophylaxis for infants born to infected mothers, including hepatitis B vaccine and hepatitis B immune globulin
- Routine vaccination of all infants with the hepatitis B vaccine series, with the first dose administered at birth
Guidelines and Recommendations
Appendix A: Case Finding and Management of HBsAg-Positive PersonsAppendix B: Immunization Management IssuesAppendix C: Postexposure ProphylaxisPDF version: (with appendices)
Related Article:
Newborn Hepatitis B Vaccination Coverage Among Children Born January 2003–June
2005 — United States
MMWR 2008;57(30):825-828
Prenatal Carerenatal Care
Delivery Hospitals
Delivery Hospital Policies and Procedures to Prevent Perinatal HBV Transmission
Case Management
Contact information for state, territorial, and local coordinators who provide case management to prevent perinatal transmission of HBV infection
Components of Case Management Programs to Prevent Perinatal Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) InfectionSpecific Sites and Tools
-
Program Resources
Hepatitis B Vaccine at Birth
Variety of materials on the birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine -
CDC Resources
State Immunization Laws for Healthcare Workers and Patients
Maternal hepatitis B screening and reporting requirements (by state)Prevention of Perinatal and Childhood Hepatitis B Virus Infections
Perinatal Hepatitis B Prevention Coordinators
A CDC NetConference
A resource center for CDC-funded perinatal hepatitis B prevention programs
Page last modified: June 19, 2008
Content source:
Division of Viral Hepatitis
National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention
Word file link - requires Microsoft Word™ or 
Excel file link - requires Microsoft Excel™ or
Link to other Federal
Link to State/Local government sites