40 And thus, a more sensitive assay such as the nucleic acid amplification test to detect occult HBV infection should be implemented to minimize the transmission through blood transfusion.41 buy Everolimus As to perinatal transmission, the most effective means for prevention is immunization (vide infra). Nevertheless, whether modes of obstetric delivery are associated with HBV infection has been studied. A meta-analysis based on four randomized controlled clinical trials including a total of 789 HBsAg carrier mothers found perinatal HBV infection in infants delivered by elective cesarean section

and vaginal delivery was 10.5% and 28.2%, respectively.42 However, other studies did not favor cesarean section in preventing maternal transmission of HBV.43,44 Elective cesarean section in HBsAg-carrier mothers

is not recommended as long as the newborn infant receives appropriate hepatitis B www.selleckchem.com/products/INCB18424.html immunoprophylaxis.45 Under immunoprophylaxis, breast-feeding also does not pose additional risk for HBV transmission from chronic HBV-carrier mothers.46 Because of the extreme effectiveness of hepatitis B vaccine in precluding HBV infection, universal vaccination against hepatitis B is regarded to be the key toward elimination and eradication of hepatitis B.5 Pre-exposure prophylaxis with hepatitis B vaccine has been most extensively studied in men who have sex with men and health-care workers. Randomized, 上海皓元 double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials demonstrated a protective efficacy of 80–88% in male homosexuals as well as health-care workers (reviewed in 5). The efficacy in immunocompromised

hosts, such as patients with end-stage renal disease, chronic liver disease, HIV infection or organ transplants, was inadequate. However, if these patients have been vaccinated against hepatitis B before, a booster before transplantation can yield good protection. This was documented by a recent study from Taiwan where a mass hepatitis B vaccination has been implemented since 1984.47 The study indicated that boosting the antibody to HBsAg (anti-HBs) in children who had received hepatitis B vaccination in infancy prevented HBV infection in most of the 60 children who received living donor liver transplantation. Those with anti-HBs levels of more than 1000 IU/L were all protected from HBV infection in this study.48 In this setting, the most thoroughly population studied is infants born to HBeAg-positive HBsAg carrier mothers. Because HBeAg-positive mothers are highly infectious, the gap between exposure to maternal HBV and the newborn’s own active production of anti-HBs induced by hepatitis B vaccine should be bridged as soon as possible with hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG). The efficacy of protecting from chronic HBsAg carriage with passive-active immunoprophylaxis in these infants is more than 90%.