Prevention of Perinatal Transmission of Hepatitis B Virus: Assessment Among Wisconsin Maternity Hospitals

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the completeness of identification of pregnant women testing positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and birth dose hepatitis B vaccine administration, and the extent of appropriate prophylaxis of infants born to women with and without maternal HBsAg status documented in the infant medical record.

Methods: We conducted medical record reviews of 3058 maternal and infant pairs at 58 Wisconsin maternity hospitals that cumulatively delivered 90% of Wisconsin's 2010 birth cohort.

Results: A documented HBsAg test result for the current pregnancy was included in 2928 (95.7%) of maternal records, and in 2676 (87.5%) infant records. Four infants (15%) were born to HBsAg-positive women; all 4 infants received appropriate prophylaxis: hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) and a dose of hepatitis B vaccine within 12 hours of birth. However, among 382 infants without a documented maternal HBsAg test result in the infant medical record, only 135 (35%) received appropriate prophylaxis: a dose of hepatitis B vaccine within 12 hours of birth or a dose of hepatitis B vaccine and HBIG within 12 hours of birth for infants weighing < 2000 g. Among all infants, 81.6% received hepatitis B vaccine prior to hospital discharge.

Conclusions: Hospitals must ensure that infants without a documented maternal HBsAg test result receive appropriate prophylaxis to prevent hepatitis B vaccine infection. All infants, regardless of maternal HBsAg test result, should receive a dose of hepatitis B vaccine before hospital discharge to serve as a "safety net" to prevent infection among infants born to HBsAg-positive women who are not identified prenatally. A written hospital policy for universal hepatitis B vaccine birth dose administration should be developed to reinforce admission orders.