Hepatitis B Vaccination, Screening, and Linkage to Care
Publication Date: December 1, 2017
Last Updated: March 14, 2022
Best Practice Advice
Clinicians should vaccinate against hepatitis B virus (HBV) in all unvaccinated adults (including pregnant women) at risk for infection due to sexual, percutaneous, or mucosal exposure; health care and public safety workers at risk for blood exposure; adults with chronic liver disease, end-stage renal disease (including hemodialysis patients), or HIV infection; travelers to HBV-endemic regions; and adults seeking protection from HBV infection.
6731
Clinicians should screen (hepatitis B surface antigen, antibody to hepatitis B core antigen, and antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen) for HBV in high-risk persons, including persons born in countries with 2% or higher HBV prevalence, men who have sex with men, persons who inject drugs, HIV-positive persons, household and sexual contacts of HBV-infected persons, persons requiring immunosuppressive therapy, persons with end-stage renal disease (including hemodialysis patients), blood and tissue donors, persons infected with hepatitis C virus, persons with elevated alanine aminotransferase levels (≥19 IU/L for women and ≥30 IU/L for men), incarcerated persons, pregnant women, and infants born to HBV-infected mothers.
6731
Clinicians should provide or refer all patients identified with HBV (HBsAg-positive) for posttest counseling and hepatitis B–directed care.
6731
Title
Hepatitis B Vaccination, Screening, and Linkage to Care
Authoring Organization
American College of Physicians
Publication Month/Year
December 1, 2017
Last Updated Month/Year
August 7, 2023
External Publication Status
Published
Country of Publication
US
Document Objectives
Vaccination, screening, and linkage to care can reduce the burden of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. However, recommendations vary among organizations, and their implementation has been suboptimal. The American College of Physicians' High Value Care Task Force and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention developed this article to present best practice statements for hepatitis B vaccination, screening, and linkage to care.
Target Patient Population
Patients high risk for Hepatitis B
Inclusion Criteria
Female, Male, Adolescent, Adult, Older adult
Health Care Settings
Ambulatory, Long term care, Outpatient
Intended Users
Nurse, nurse practitioner, physician, physician assistant
Scope
Assessment and screening, Prevention, Management
Diseases/Conditions (MeSH)
D006509 - Hepatitis B, D006505 - Hepatitis, D011315 - Preventive Medicine, D014611 - Vaccination, D017325 - Hepatitis B Vaccines
Keywords
vaccination, screening, hepatitis B, preventive care
Methodology
Number of Source Documents
99
Literature Search Start Date
January 1, 2005
Literature Search End Date
June 1, 2017