[Hepatitis B screening of pregnant women and follow-up vaccination of infants with HBsAG positive mothers. A survey from the Hvidovre hospital in 1999]. / Hepatitis B-screening af gravide kvinder og opfølgende vaccination of børn af HBsAg-positive mødre. En undersøgelse fra Hvidovre Hospital 1999.

The aim of this study was to assess the implementation of the recommendations of the Danish National Health Service concerning screening of women from hepatitis B (HB) endemic areas and follow-up vaccination of infants of carrier mothers. We examined all birth notification (n = 836) at Hvidovre Hospital during the first three months of 1999. Among 188 women from HB endemic areas only 134 (71%) women had been screened for HBsAg before delivery. Six women were HBsAg positive one of whom was examined after the delivery. Four out of six infants (67%) received Aunativ and Engerix-B within 12 hours of birth, one infant received Aunativ and Engerix-B at four days of age, the infant born of the mother who was screened after delivery didn't receive either Aunativ or Engerix-B. Three out of the six infants (50%) had received all the scheduled Engerix-B vaccinations. Our results suggest it may be necessary to reconsider the current screening and vaccination procedures to prevent an increase in the number of children becoming chronic HB carriers in Denmark.