The risk of hepatitis B to hospital personnel. A prospective study among personnel exposed to patients without isolation precaution.

During a two-week period 54 ward personnel were exposed to two patients with severe type B hepatitis. No specific isolation precautions were used other than separate collection of hypodermic needles. During a 22-week follow-up period, there was no evidence of either overt or subclinical hepatitis in development of hepatitis B surface antigen or antibody to the surface antigen that could be attributed to exposure to the patients. This data does not support requirements for cumbersome and complicated isolation procedures during the care of patients with type B hepatitis.