OBJECTIVES: To launch a programme for the prevention of perinatal infection with hepatitis B in the Netherlands. DESIGN: Routine antenatal screening and intervention programme. SETTING: Community antenatal programme, the Netherlands. SUBJECTS: Infants of mothers who were carriers of hepatitis B detected by routine screening. INTERVENTIONS: Infants of infected mothers received hepatitis B immunoglobulin at birth and four doses of hepatitis B vaccine in conjunction with routine immunisation at 3, 4, 5, and 11 months of age. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Results of screening and immunisation from 1989-92. RESULTS: The coverage of screening increased from 46% in 1989 to 84% in 1992. Hepatitis B surface antigen was detected in 2145 women (0.44%). The coverage of postnatal immunoprophylaxis in 1645 neonates born to mothers who were carriers of hepatitis B was 85% (1391); in 3% (42) there was a delay in administration of immunoglobulin of over 24 hours. In 1991, 96% (537), 95% (532), 94% (525), and 87% (489) of the infants received the first, second, third, and fourth dose of vaccine, respectively. There was considerable variation in the timing of vaccination; 17% (258) of the infants received their first dose more than two weeks late. Of the 59% (583) of infants who received the fourth dose more than two weeks beyond target age, 14% (141) also received their first dose too late. CONCLUSIONS: A prevention programme for perinatal hepatitis B in an area of low prevalence, when incorporated into existing health care, is feasible and achieves satisfactory coverage rates. Intensive follow up is needed to improve adherence to the immunisation schedule.
OBJECTIVES: To launch a programme for the prevention of perinatal infection with hepatitis B in the Netherlands. DESIGN: Routine antenatal screening and intervention programme. SETTING: Community antenatal programme, the Netherlands. SUBJECTS:Infants of mothers who were carriers of hepatitis B detected by routine screening. INTERVENTIONS:Infants of infected mothers received hepatitis B immunoglobulin at birth and four doses of hepatitis B vaccine in conjunction with routine immunisation at 3, 4, 5, and 11 months of age. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Results of screening and immunisation from 1989-92. RESULTS: The coverage of screening increased from 46% in 1989 to 84% in 1992. Hepatitis B surface antigen was detected in 2145 women (0.44%). The coverage of postnatal immunoprophylaxis in 1645 neonates born to mothers who were carriers of hepatitis B was 85% (1391); in 3% (42) there was a delay in administration of immunoglobulin of over 24 hours. In 1991, 96% (537), 95% (532), 94% (525), and 87% (489) of the infants received the first, second, third, and fourth dose of vaccine, respectively. There was considerable variation in the timing of vaccination; 17% (258) of the infants received their first dose more than two weeks late. Of the 59% (583) of infants who received the fourth dose more than two weeks beyond target age, 14% (141) also received their first dose too late. CONCLUSIONS: A prevention programme for perinatal hepatitis B in an area of low prevalence, when incorporated into existing health care, is feasible and achieves satisfactory coverage rates. Intensive follow up is needed to improve adherence to the immunisation schedule.
Authors: J A Mazel; S W Schalm; B C de Gast; A S Nuijten; R A Heijtink; M J Botman; J R Bänffer; L J Gerards; J Zwijnenberg; J Mettau Journal: Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) Date: 1984-02-18
Authors: C E Stevens; P T Toy; M J Tong; P E Taylor; G N Vyas; P V Nair; M Gudavalli; S Krugman Journal: JAMA Date: 1985 Mar 22-29 Impact factor: 56.272
Authors: S W Schalm; J A Mazel; G C de Gast; R A Heijtink; M J Botman; J R Bänffer; L J Cerards; J Zwijnenberg; W P Fetter; S M Nuijten Journal: Pediatrics Date: 1989-06 Impact factor: 7.124
Authors: R P Beasley; L Y Hwang; C E Stevens; C C Lin; F J Hsieh; K Y Wang; T S Sun; W Szmuness Journal: Hepatology Date: 1983 Mar-Apr Impact factor: 17.425
Authors: Y T van Duynhoven; M J van de Laar; W A Schop; P H Rothbarth; W I van der Meijden; A M van Loon; M J Sprenger Journal: Genitourin Med Date: 1997-12