Recommendations for Protection Against Viral Hepatitis

Abstract

This statement updates all previous recommendations on use of immune globulins for protection against viral hepatitis and use of hepatitis B vaccine and hepatitis B immune globulin for prophylaxis of hepatitis B. Recommendations cover hepatitis A; hepatitis B; non-A, non-B hepatitis; and delta hepatitis. Specific indications are included for use of immune globulin, hepatitis B immune globulin, and hepatitis B vaccine for high-risk groups, including medical and dental personnel, hemodialysis patients, workers at daycare centers, workers at institutions for the mentally retarded, prison inmates, homosexual men, intravenous drug abusers, international travelers, household and sexual contacts of persons at risk, and heterosexually active persons. Recommendations are given for maternal and fetal screening for serologic markers of hepatitis B virus, and guidelines for treatment are provided.