Immunizing newborn infants of mothers with hepatitis B prevents infection being transmitted from mother to child, finds a study published online by the British Medical Journal today.
There are approximately 350 million hepatitis B carriers worldwide. The virus is transmitted by contact with blood or body fluids of an infected person. Mother-to-child transmission around the time of birth is common and accounts for up to half of all carriers.
Researchers analyzed randomized trials to assess the beneficial and harmful effects of hepatitis B vaccines (active production of antibodies) and hepatitis B immunoglobulin (passive transfer of antibodies) in newborn infants of mothers positive for hepatitis B surface antigen.
They found that hepatitis B vaccine, hepatitis B immunoglobulin, or the combination of vaccine plus immunoglobulin given to the newborn infants of mothers positive for hepatitis B surface antigen prevents the occurrence of hepatitis B. Furthermore, the combination of vaccine plus immunoglobulin was superior to vaccine alone.
There was no difference between the two types of vaccine currently available.
Although this study confirms that vaccines and immunoglobulin are effective, more research is needed to identify the optimal dose and treatment schedule of hepatitis B immunization, conclude the authors.
Â
Â
The Evolution of Health Care Environmental Hygiene: A Long Overdue Shift in Infection Control
September 5th 2024This new column, Clean Hospital with Alexandra Peters, PhD, explores advancements in health care environmental hygiene, highlighting its growing recognition as a key component of infection prevention and honoring pioneers like Professor Stephanie Dancer.
New UV-C Disinfection Technology for Ultrasound Probes Earns FDA Clearance
September 4th 2024Chronos, a chemical-free UV-C disinfection device for ultrasound probes, received FDA clearance. It offers health care professionals a fast, automated solution to reduce cross-contamination and improve infection prevention.
Addressing Sterile Processing Instrument Errors With Advanced Technology and Data Insights
September 3rd 2024Surgical instrument errors, often linked to visualization failures during sterile processing, pose significant risks to patient safety and OR efficiency. Advanced technologies, including AI, are essential for reducing these errors and improving overall outcomes in sterile processing departments.