[Vaccination is not always sufficient to prevent vertical transmission of hepatitis B virus].

Routine screening of pregnant women for infection with hepatitis B virus and active-passive immunization of newborns resulted in a dramatic decline in vertical transmission of hepatitis B. A recent study in the Annals of Internal Medicine identified factors associated with failure of active-passive immunization of newborns from hepatitis B virus infected mothers. A further decline in the incidence of vertical transmission of hepatitis B virus may be expected when referral for and initiation of antiviral therapy in the last trimester of pregnancy for selected patients can be optimized.