Passive immunization for hepatitis B

Abstract

Numerous studies have been conducted to assess the effectiveness of gamma globulin in preventing type B hepatitis. These investigations have evaluated the effectivenesses of standard immunoglobulin (IG) and hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) in pre-exposure and postexposure settings. The current data suggest that HBIG and standard IG containing some antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen may be effective for pre- and postexposure prophylaxis of hepatitis B. It is recommended that HBIG be used for the postexposure prophylaxis of individuals sustaining accidental needle-stick or mucosal exposure to blood known to contain hepatitis B surface antigen. If HBIG is unavailable, then standard IG may be beneficial. While pre-exposure prophylaxis with gamma globulin may be effective, there are appropriate environmental control methods available that may significantly reduce the transmission of hepatitis B, and these should be fully implemented.