Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute
Corporate and Continuing Education
HEALTH SERVICES
HEPATITIS B INFORMATION
January 2012
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HEPATITIS B VIRUS INFORMATION
The following information, taken from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website
www.CDC.gov/hepatitis/B is provided to students enrolled in Health Service area courses through Corporate
and Continuing Education (CCE). The purpose of this document is to inform the student of potential risks with
contracting the disease. It is the student’s responsibility to read this material in order to recognize signs and
symptoms, understand how the disease is transmitted, know who is at risk, and what measures should be taken
to prevent contracting the disease.
Hepatitis B Fact Sheet
DESCRIPTION
Hepatitis B is a contagious liver disease that results from infection with the Hepatitis B virus
(HBV). It can range in severity from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a serious, lifelong
illness. Hepatitis B is usually spread when blood, semen, or another body fluid from a person
infected with the Hepatitis B virus enters the body of someone who is not infected. HBV can be
either acute or chronic and cause lifelong infection, cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver, liver cancer,
liver failure, and death. Hepatitis B vaccine is available for all age groups to prevent hepatitis B
virus infection.
SIGNS & SYMPTOMS
About 30% of persons have no signs or symptoms.
Signs and symptoms are less common in children than adults.
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jaundice
fatigue
abdominal pain
fever
clay-colored bowel movements
CAUSE
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Hepatitis B virus (HBV)
TRANSMISSION
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Occurs when blood from an infected person enters the body of a person who is not
infected.
HBV is spread through having sex with an infected person without using a condom (the
efficacy of latex condoms in preventing infection with HBV is unknown, but their
proper use might reduce transmission), by sharing drugs, needles, or "works" when
injecting drugs, through needle sticks or sharps exposures on the job, by sharing razors
or toothbrushes with an infected person, or from an infected mother to her baby during
birth.
Persons at risk for HBV infection might also be at risk for infection with hepatitis C
virus (HCV) or HIV.
HBV is NOT spread through food or water, sharing eating utensils, breastfeeding,
hugging, kissing, hand holding, coughing, or sneezing.
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RISK GROUPS
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PREVENTION
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Persons with multiple sex partners or
diagnosis of a sexually transmitted disease
Men who have sex with men
Sex contacts of infected persons
Injection-drug users
Household contacts of chronically infected
persons
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loss of appetite
nausea, vomiting
joint pain
dark urine
Infants born to infected mothers
Infants/children of immigrants
from areas with high rates of
HBV infection
Health-care and public safety
workers with exposure to blood
Hemodialysis patients
Hepatitis B vaccine is the best protection.
If you are having sex, but not with one steady partner, use latex condoms correctly and
every time you have sex. The efficacy of latex condoms in preventing infection with
HBV is unknown, but their proper use might reduce transmission.
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VACCINE
RECOMMENDATIONS
LONG-TERM EFFECTS
WITHOUT VACCINATION
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If you are pregnant, you should get a blood test for hepatitis B. Infants born to HBVinfected mothers should be given HBIG (hepatitis B immune globulin) and vaccine
within 12 hours after birth.
Do not shoot drugs; if you shoot drugs, stop and get into a treatment program; if you
can't stop, never share drugs, needles, syringes, water, or "works", and get vaccinated
against hepatitis A and B.
Do not share personal care items that might have blood on them (razors, toothbrushes).
Consider the risks if you are thinking about getting a tattoo or body piercing. You might
get infected if the tools have someone else's blood on them or if the artist or piercer
does not follow good health practices.
If you have or had hepatitis B, do not donate blood, organs, or tissue.
If you are a health-care or public safety worker, get vaccinated against hepatitis B, and
always follow routine barrier precautions and safely handle needles and other sharps.
Hepatitis B vaccine has been available since 1982.
Routine vaccination of 0-18 year olds
Vaccination of risk groups of all ages
Chronic infection occurs in:
• 90% of infants infected at birth
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30% of children infected at age 1–5 years
6% of persons infected after age 5 years
Death from chronic liver disease occurs in:
15%–25% of chronically infected persons
CONTRAINDICATIONS TO
VACCINE
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A serious allergic reaction to a prior dose of hepatitis B vaccine or a vaccine component
is a contraindication to further doses of hepatitis B vaccine. The recombinant vaccines
that are licensed for use in the United States are synthesized by Saccharomyces
cerevisiae (common bakers' yeast), into which a plasmid containing the gene for
HBsAg has been inserted. Purified HBsAg is obtained by lysing the yeast cells and
separating HBsAg from the yeast components by biochemical and biophysical
techniques. Persons allergic to yeast should not be vaccinated with vaccines containing
yeast.
TREATMENT & MEDICAL
MANAGEMENT
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HBV infected persons should be evaluated by their doctor for liver disease.
Adefovir dipivoxil, interferon alfa-2b, pegylated interferon alfa-2a, lamivudine,
entecavir, and telbivudine are six drugs used for the treatment of persons with chronic
hepatitis B.
These drugs should not be used by pregnant women.
Drinking alcohol can make your liver disease worse.
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TRENDS & STATISTICS
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Number of new infections per year has declined from an average of 260,000 in the
1980s to about 60,000 in 2004.
Highest rate of disease occurs in 20-49-year-olds.
Greatest decline has happened among children and adolescents due to routine hepatitis
B vaccination.
In the United States, an estimated 800,000 to 1.4 million persons have chronic HBV
infection.
Globally, chronic Hepatitis B affects approximately 350 million people and contributes
to an estimated 620,000 deaths worldwide each year
(http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hbv/bfaq.htm ,2012).
HEPATITIS B VACCINATION WAIVER OR CONSENT
I understand that close personal contact with individuals may increase my risk of acquiring the hepatitis B virus
(HBV) infection.
By initialing and signing this form where appropriate, I acknowledge that I have read the information
provided regarding HBV and have had adequate opportunities to ask questions regarding the material,
and I agree to its content.
Select one statement below and initial. Print your name; sign; date; return to instructor.
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Initials
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Initials
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Initials
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Initials
I decline the hepatitis B vaccination at this time.
I understand that I continue to be at risk for contracting this disease but hold Caldwell
Community College and Technical Institute harmless should I contract the disease.
Should I decide to receive the HBV vaccination series while participating in a health course
through CCE, I will notify my instructor and clinical supervisor and will provide
documentation of the vaccine(s) when given.
I am currently receiving the series.
I am submitting proof of immunizations.
I am immune to hepatitis B.
I am submitting proof of immunity.
Hepatitis B vaccine is contraindicated for medical reasons.
I am submitting medical documentation for verification.
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Print name
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Signature
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Date
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