New CDC
Recommendations for Identifying Chronic Hepatitis
B Virus
[Posted 09/29/2008]
The
September 19 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly
Report (MMWR) reported on new recommendations
regarding testing for chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV)
from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
The new recommendations aim to improve the
identification and the public health management of
hepatitis B virus by expanding the routine testing
for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) to
additional populations. HBsAg is the primary way of
identifying persons with chronic HBV infection.
These additional populations include: persons born
in geographic regions with HBsAg prevalence of >2%,
men who have sex with men, and injection-drug users.
Chronic HBV is associated with liver failure,
cirrhosis, and liver cancer and can be life-threatening.
It causes approximately 2,000 to 4,000 deaths each
year in the US. Hepatitis B vaccinations are very
effective in preventing the spread of HBV, and
high-quality antiviral agents are available to treat
the disease. Early identification of persons with
chronic HBV infection can lead to prompt vaccination
of susceptible household members and sex partners,
thereby interrupting ongoing transmission and,
ultimately, the spread of the virus into the wider
population.
Related Links:
MMWR Article
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