What is perinatal transmission of hepatitis B?
Perinatal transmission of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) from mother to infant at birth is very efficient. The risk of infection may be as high as 70-90%. The HBV virus is transmitted by blood exposures. Up to 90% of perinatally infected babies who are not treated will develop a chronic hepatitis B infection. An estimated 15-25% of these individuals will ultimately die of liver failure secondary to chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, or primary liver cancer. Treatment initiated within 12 hours after birth is up to 90% effective at preventing this serious infection. Approximately 100,000 new hepatitis B cases are diagnosed in the U.S. each year. One third of the chronic infections are acquired perinatally or in early childhood through close household contact. The disease is largely preventable through treatment of infants born to infected mothers, as well as vaccination of individuals at risk for infection. Since 1988, the Centers for Disease Control’s Immunization Practices Advisory Commi
