A clinical approach to hepatitis B.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections continue to be a major public health problem. Although the use of sensitive screening tests for hepatitis B surface antigen has reduced the incidence of posttransfusional hepatitis B, sexual transmission and other forms of nonparenteral and parenteral transmission of HBV still occur frequently. Until an effective HBV vaccine is commercially available, physicians will have to rely on accurate serologic diagnosis, education of patients and hospital employees, and the appropriate use of immunoglobulin preparations to alter the spread of this viral infection.