Hepatitis B prevention in Victoria, Australia - the potential to protect

Abstract

People with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) are a major source of incident hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. The Department of Health in Victoria, Australia, recommends household contacts of CHB cases to be screened and funds hepatitis B vaccination for those susceptible to infection. In July 2009, two cross-sectional surveys were conducted to assess the uptake of screening and vaccination: a postal survey of the treating doctors of a random sample of 65 CHB patients and a telephone survey of these patients. Twenty-six cases reported all adult household contacts had been screened, however only eight of these 26 patients reported that all susceptible adult contacts had been fully vaccinated. In co..