Viral Hepatitis Updates from CDC
MWR – Update: Shortened Interval for Postvaccination Serologic Testing of Infants Born to Hepatitis B-Infected Mothers
Infants born to hepatitis B-infected mothers receive postexposure prophylaxis to reduce their risk for perinatal hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Postexposure prophylaxis consists of hepatitis B (HepB) vaccine and hepatitis B immune globulin administered within 12 hours of birth, followed by completion of the 3-dose or 4-dose HepB vaccine series. Postvaccination serologic testing (PVST) assesses an infant's response to HepB vaccination and has typically occurred at age 9–18 months. This report provides a CDC update recommending shortening the interval for PVST from age 9–18 months to age 9–12 months. Providers should order PVST (consisting of hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg] and antibody to HBsAg [anti-HBs]) for infants born to HBsAg-positive mothers at age 9–12 months (or 1–2 months after the final dose of the vaccine series, if the series is delayed). This recommendation was prompted by the discontinuation of production of Hib/HepB vaccine (Comvax) and new data from the Enhanced Perinatal Hepatitis B Prevention Program supporting PVST 1–2 months after receipt of the last HepB vaccine dose, and at age ≥9 months.http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/
Laboratory Reporting of Pregnancy Status for Hepatitis B-positive Women
Although some screening studies have estimated that about 95% of pregnant women receive prenatal HBsAg testing, fewer than half of the expected births to HBsAg-positive women are identified. Laboratory reports are only required to have gender and age/date of birth, so pregnancy status is not typically reported to health departments. To help improve identification of HBsAg-positive pregnant women, CDC and partners have worked together to include pregnancy status in laboratory test reports sent to health departments. Four major commercial laboratories are participating in this effort: ARUP Laboratories, LabCorp, Mayo Medical Laboratories, and Quest Diagnostics. An effort is underway to expand this reporting of pregnancy status and engage all laboratories providing HBsAg-testing services.http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/
Assuring Medicaid Beneficiaries Access to Hepatitis C Drugs
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) remains committed to Medicaid beneficiaries continuing to have access to needed prescribed medications. The purpose of this letter is to advise states on the coverage of drugs for Medicaid beneficiaries living with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. Specifically, this letter addresses utilization of the direct-acting antiviral (DAA) drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of chronic HCV infected patients.http://www.medicaid.gov/
New Know Hepatitis B Poster – No Warning Signs
A new resource has been added to the suite of multi-lingual Know More Hepatitis B campaign. This 24x36 poster emphasizes that Hepatitis B often doesn’t cause symptoms and encourages Asian Americans to get tested, as an early diagnosis is the best way to prevent serious liver problems. Available as a downloadable image in English, Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean.http://www.cdc.gov/
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