Perinatal Hepatitis B

Protecting Babies

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Florida Perinatal Hepatitis B Prevention Program

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a serious health problem in the U.S. Transmission of HBV from mother to infant during the perinatal period confers the greatest risk of chronic infection or death from HBV-related chronic liver disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that between 450 and 750 hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive Florida women give birth each year; without prophylaxis, 45 to 100 infants would become infected with HBV. Ninety to 95% of these potential infections may be avoided through appropriate maternal screening and infant post-exposure prophylaxis.

Committed to Prevention
The Florida Perinatal Hepatitis B Prevention Program (PHBPP) is committed to the prevention of perinatal HBV infection by:

• Identifying strategies to promote a sustainable and efficient program that is responsive to the public and the ever-changing healthcare environment.
• Providing proactive and responsive case identification, case management, and follow-up for women, infants, and contacts. 
• Routine screening of all women receiving prenatal care, for HBV infection, using the HBsAg test early in each pregnancy.
• Supporting local County Health Departments (CHDs) and partners as they take the lead role in coordinating perinatal hepatitis B prevention activities in their respective communities. 

Our Objectives
Specific objectives of Florida's PHBPP are:

• All pregnant women are tested for HBsAg.
• A tracking system is used to ensure the infant receives appropriate post-exposure prophylaxis. 
• HBsAg-positive women are contacted before delivery and educated about HBV infection.
• Household and sexual contacts of HBsAg-positive women receive pre-vaccination testing, HBIG (if necessary), and hepatitis B vaccine at recommended intervals.
• Infants born to HBsAg-positive mothers receive post-vaccination testing in a timely manner to ensure protection against HBV infection. 
• Infants born to HBsAg-positive women and those of unknown status receive hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) and hepatitis B vaccine within 12 hours of birth, with follow-up doses of vaccine at 1 and 6 months of age.
• Medical providers and delivery facilities are informed of the mothers HBsAg status. 

Florida's overall goal is to ensure that all HBsAg-positive pregnant women receive enhanced case management services.

Get in Contact

Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing.

For further information, contact the Perinatal Hepatitis B Prevention Program Coordinator at Florida_PHBPP@flhealth.gov.