Decrease in the incidence of hepatitis in dialysis units associated with prevention programme.

A prospective survey of hepatitis in more than two-thirds of the dialysis units in the United Kingdom since January 1968 shows that after a prevention and control programme was started in 1970 the rising incidence of hepatitis B was halted. The programme has continued, with a sustained decline in the incidence among patients from 4.9% in 1970 to 1.4% in 1972 and among staff from 1.3% in 1970 to 0.4% in 1972.