HORIZONTAL TRANSMISSION OF HEPATITIS B VIRUS - ScienceDirect

The Lancet

Volume 333, Issue 8643, 22 April 1989, Pages 889-893

The Lancet

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(89)92876-6 Get rights and content

Abstract

Meta-analysis of seroprevalence surveys shows that horizontal transmission of hepatitis B virus (ie, that occurring without apparent parenteral, sexual, or perinatal exposure) is common in areas endemic for the virus. It occurs especially in pre-adolescent children. In developed countries, where endemicity of hepatitis B virus is low, horizontal transmission (probably via saliva or open wounds) may occur in households with a persistent carrier, but it is less efficient a means of infection than is sexual or perinatal transmission. Horizontal transmission also seems possible in pre-school day-care centres in developed countries, despite the small numbers of carriers in such places.

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Cited by (168)

Diagnostic and therapeutic protocol for the treatment of bites from animals and humans
2018, Medicine (Spain)
Las mordeduras producidas por animales y por seres humanos suponen un motivo de consulta no infrecuente. Tienen un mayor riesgo de infección las producidas por gatos y seres humanos, las heridas extensas o profundas, las que afectan a la cara y a las manos o que están próximas a las articulaciones, y aquellas con retraso en la atención médica o infringidas a pacientes inmunodeprimidos. Los microorganismos responsables son los habituales de la flora bacteriana bucal de los animales. El tratamiento inicial implica una evaluación cuidadosa de los daños y del riesgo de infección, el lavado de la herida y la elevación del miembro. En los casos con riesgo de infección debe considerarse un curso corto de antibióticos profilácticos. Es importante, asimismo, la reevaluación de la herida a corto plazo. En los casos de infección asociada, debe incidirse en la limpieza de la herida, la escisión de tejido necrótico y cuerpos extraños y un curso más prolongado de antibióticos.
Bites given by animals and humans are a not uncommon reason for medical consultation. Bites from cats and from humans have greater risk of infection, as do those which are extensive or profound, those affecting the face and hands, those near to joints and those with delayed medical attention or in immunodepressed patients. The microorganisms responsible are those common to the oral bacterial flora of animals. Initial treatment implies careful assessment of damages and risk of infection, wound cleaning and raising of the affected limb. In cases where there is risk of infection, a short course of prophylactic antibiotics should be considered. Short-term reassessment of the wound is also important. In cases of associated infection, wound cleaning must be encouraged, together with the removal of necrotic tissue and foreign bodies and a longer course of antibiotics should be administered.
Hepatitis B and Hepatitis D Viruses
2018, Principles and Practice of Pediatric Infectious Diseases
Time trends of chronic HBV infection over prior decades – A global analysis
2017, Journal of Hepatology
Citation Excerpt :
Particularly those infected in early childhood, either perinatally or horizontally, have a high risk of developing a chronic HBV carrier status [14–17]. The age-dependent nature of becoming chronically infected therefore implies that areas with low age at HBV infection like sub-Saharan Africa and East Asia have higher endemicity of chronic HBV [18–21]. Immunization against HBV during infancy is therefore postulated as a core intervention to prevent childhood HBV infection through a greater than linear decrease in the rate of generation of new carriers and through an increase in average age at infection [18].
Information on trends in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) prevalence across countries is lacking. We studied changes in chronic HBV infection over previous decades by country, and assessed patterns of change between and within WHO-defined regions.
Based on data from a published systematic review on chronic HBV, we applied a linear model on the logit scale to assess time trends in country-specific prevalence. Estimated HBsAg prevalence in 2000 and relative changes in prevalence over time were evaluated by country and region.
Sufficient data were available for 50 countries, mostly showing reductions in prevalence over time. Various degrees of heterogeneity were observed within regions, with a relatively homogenous pattern in the Eastern Mediterranean region with strong decreases in HBsAg prevalence. Europe showed a mixed pattern: higher and stable chronic HBsAg prevalence in Eastern, and constantly low prevalence in Western Europe. In Africa, some countries demonstrated no change in prevalence; increases were seen in Uganda (odds ratio 1.05 per year; 95% confidence interval 1.04–1.06), Nigeria (1.02; 1.02–1.02), Senegal (1.01; 1.01–1.02), and South Africa (1.02; 1.01–1.02). With some exceptions, country-patterns overlapped among countries of South East Asian and Western Pacific regions, characterized by low-medium HBsAg decreases, most prominent in China and Malaysia.
Most countries experienced decreases in HBsAg prevalence. Dynamics varied, even within regions; decreases occurred mostly before the direct effects of childhood vaccination may have manifested. These findings together with stable and increasing HBsAg prevalence in some countries of Africa and Eastern Europe indicate the need for further tailored country-specific prevention.
This study investigated time trends in prevalence of chronic HBV infection in 50 countries worldwide over the last decade, by estimating relative changes in prevalence. Results show decreases in chronic HBV infection in most countries; no changes or increases in prevalence are noted in some African countries. Reasons for time changes need to be investigated further; based on the results, various prevention measures have contributed to reductions, and further tailored HBV prevention is required to combat the disease on a global level.
Mother to child transmission of hepatitis B virus: A cause for concern
2015, Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology
Mother to child transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is an important public health issue. India introduced HBV vaccine in 10 states as part of its Universal Immunization Program (UIP). Here we show evidence of mother-to-child transmission of HBV in three families from Jharkhand and Bihar states where HBV vaccination is not yet included in the UIP. This report illustrates the need for active screening of HBV in pregnant women and implementation of HBV vaccine across all states in India to reduce the burden of disease.
Hepatitis B virus infection among HIV-infected pregnant women in Malawi and transmission to infants
2014, Journal of Hepatology
Citation Excerpt :
Pregnant women who are co-infected with HIV and HBV tend to be highly viremic for HBV [3] and may be at heightened risk of HBV transmission to their infants [4,5]. HBV infection among children in sub-Saharan Africa, in contrast to East Asia [6], has tended to be acquired during later infancy and early childhood, rather than perinatally [7,8]. HBV can be found in many body fluids including, blood, breast milk, saliva, sweat, tears, and urine [9,10].
The extent of HBV infection to infants of HBV/HIV-coinfected pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa is unknown. The aim of this study was to assess prevalence of HBV infection among antiretroviral-naïve, HIV-infected pregnant women in Malawi and examine HBV transmission to their infants.
Plasma from 2048 HIV-infected, Malawian women and their infants were tested for markers of HBV infection. Study participants were provided standard-of-care health services, which included administration of pentavalent vaccine to infants at 6, 10, and 14 weeks of age.
One-hundred and three women (5%) were HBsAg-positive; 70 of these HBsAg-positive women were also HBV-DNA-positive. Sixteen women (0.8%) were HBV-DNA-positive but HBsAg-negative. Five of 51 infants (9.8%) born to HBsAg-positive and/or HBV-DNA-positive women were HBV-DNA-positive by 48 weeks of age. HBV DNA concentrations of two infants of mothers who received extended lamivudine-containing anti-HIV prophylaxis were <4 log₁₀ IU/ml compared to ⩾8 log₁₀ IU/ml in three infants of mothers who did not.
HBV DNA was detected in nearly 10% of infants born to HBV/HIV-coinfected women. Antenatal testing for HIV and HBV, if instituted, can facilitate implementation of prophylactic measures against infant infection by both viruses.
Seroprevalence and factors associated with Hepatitis B virus infection among students in two senior high schools in the Krachi Nchumuru district in Ghana-A cross-sectional study
2023, BMC Research Notes

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Copyright © 1989 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

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