[Hepatitis B screening of pregnant women and follow-up vaccination of infants with HBsAG positive mothers. A survey from the Hvidovre hospital in 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.