Elk Grove Village, IL—(ENEWSPF)—April 23, 2015. Timely immunoprophylaxis shortly after birth and completion of the hepatitis B vaccine series prevents most transmission of perinatal hepatitis B virus. In the study, “Outcomes of Infants Born to Women Infected With Hepatitis B,” in the May 2015 issue of Pediatrics (published online April 20), researchers examined data from five U.S. Perinatal Hepatitis B Prevention Programs during 2007-2013.
Infant gestational age and birth weight, infant immunizations for hepatitis B, and maternal demographics and lab results were all examined. Despite recommended immunoprophylasix, perinatal hepatitis B infection occurs among 1 percent of the 9,252 infants born to hepatitis B-positive mothers. Infants at greatest risk for perinatal hepatitis B infection are those who receive fewer than three hepatitis B vaccine doses or those born to mothers who are younger, are hepatitis B e antigen-positive or have high viral loads.
Study authors conclude that identifying women with a higher risk of perinatal hepatitis B transmission and interventions such as maternal antiviral therapy might be helpful in minimizing or eradicating these infections.
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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 62,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.
Source: www.aap.org
