Perinatal Hepatitis B Prevention Program
What is the Perinatal Hepatitis B Prevention Program (PHBPP)?
The PHBPP is a tracking and reminder program for infants and household contacts of pregnant women who have hepatitis B (HBsAg-positive).
What is the goal of the PHBPP?
The main goal of the PHBPP is to reduce the incidence of hepatitis B in infants born to women with hepatitis B.
How is this goal achieved?
First, HBsAg-positive pregnant women must be identified:
- All women should be screened for hepatitis B (HBsAg) during each pregnancy.
- Women who test negative for HBsAg early in their pregnancy but who are at increased risk for hepatitis B should be screened again at the time of delivery.
All HBsAg-positive pregnant women should be reported to the health department during their pregnancy and at the time of their delivery.
A follow-up system is in place to help assure that infants born to HBsAg-positive women receive appropriate post-exposure prophylaxis.
Additionally, all household and sexual contacts of pregnant women with hepatitis B should be identified, and
- Susceptible contacts should receive the 3-dose series of hepatitis B vaccine.
- Any contacts with a recent exposure may also need hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG), if a substantial exposure to an HBsAg-positive woman has occurred within the last 14 days.
What is the appropriate post-exposure prophylaxis for infants born to HBsAg-positive women?
HBIG and the first dose of hepatitis B vaccine given within 12 hours of birth 2 additional doses of hepatitis B vaccine, given at 1-2 months of age and 6 months of age (dose 3 should not be given before infant is 6 months of age).
What about follow-up blood testing of these infants?
Infants born to HBsAg-positive women should be screened for HBsAg (to see if they have hepatitis B) and anti-HBs (to see if they have adequate antibody (are protected) against hepatitis B).
This follow-up testing should be done 3 to 9 months after dose #3 of hepatitis B vaccine (at 9-15 months of age).
How and when do I report a pregnant women who has hepatitis B (HBsAg-positive)?
Hepatitis B in pregnant women is a legally notifiable condition and should be reported within one working day to the health department.
All pregnant women who are HBsAg-positive should be reported to the health department as early in pregnancy as possible.
Reporting of an HBsAg-positive pregnant woman to Washoe District Health Department can be done by:
- Faxing a copy of the HBsAg-positive test results to the confidential fax at (775) 328-3764, or
- Faxing a completed Nevada State Health Division "Confidential Case Report" form to the confidential fax at (775) 328-3764, or
- Calling Communicable Disease Control at (775) 328-2447.
Questions about the PHBPP?
Call (775) 328-2447 for questions or email Denise Stokich - dstokich@washoecounty.us.
PHBPP materials, such as the Nevada State Health Division "Confidential Case Report" form and PHBPP pamphlets can be ordered using any of the above contact numbers.
The above contact numbers can also be used to report vaccine doses and test results on infants and household contacts of women enrolled in the program.
All information is general in nature and is not intended to be used as a substitute for appropriate professional advice. For more information please call (775) 328-2447.
Nevada State Health Division - Hepatitis Prevention and Control Program
