Evaluation of the compliance with the protocol for preventing perinatal hepatitis B infection in Italy

• Published in: The Journal of infection 2011-02, Vol.62 (2), p.165-171
• Main Authors: Spada, Enea, Tosti, Maria Elena, Zuccaro, Ornella, Stroffolini, Tommaso, Mele, Alfonso
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Clinical Protocols; Educational Status; Female; General aspects; HBV; Hepatitis B - diagnosis; Hepatitis B - epidemiology; Hepatitis B - prevention & control; Hepatitis B - transmission; Hepatitis B immune globulin; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens - blood; Hepatitis B Vaccines - administration & dosage; Hepatitis B virus; Human viral diseases; Humans; Infant, Newborn - immunology; Infectious Disease; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical - prevention & control; Infectious diseases; Italy; Italy - epidemiology; Mass Screening; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neonatal Screening; Patient Compliance; Perinatal infection; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious - diagnosis; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious - epidemiology; Pregnant women; Prenatal Care; Prevalence; Screening; Surveys and Questionnaires; Vaccination; Viral diseases; Viral hepatitis; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0163-4453; 1532-2742
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2010.11.014

Summary Objective To evaluate the compliance with the protocol for preventing perinatal hepatitis B infection in Italy, including HBsAg screening of pregnant women and immunization of newborns to infected mothers. Methods Women consecutively delivering, over 6 months in 2008–2009, in public and private hospitals of 13 Italian regions were recruited. Data on socio-demographic characteristics, HBsAg prenatal screening and newborns immunization were collected. Results 17,260 pregnant women were enrolled. Of them 16,858 (97.7%) attended prenatal screening. Delivering in a public hospital and in hospitals located in South Italy were both independent predictors of non-adherence to HBsAg screening. Foreign pregnant women were also less likely to be screened. Overall, HBsAg prevalence was 0.86%; it was 0.4% for Italian women and 2.5% for foreign women. Differences in prevalence by country of origin and education were statistically significant. Of 138 newborns from HBsAg positive mothers 131 received passive/active immunization; 7 newborns received just vaccine. Conclusion In this study compliance with the protocol for preventing perinatal hepatitis B was very good. Further efforts are needed to improve adherence to prenatal screening in public hospitals, in hospital located in southern Italy and among foreign women. HBV spread in Italy is progressively declining, also involving immigrant population.