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Louisiana Department of Health & Hospitals | Bruce Greenstein, Secretary

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Louisiana Perinatal Hepatitis B Program

Prevention and Surveillance

The purpose of the Louisiana Perinatal Hepatitis B Program is to diminish the spread of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) from mother-to-child transmission in the State of Louisiana. Having started in 1990, the program has been successful in reducing HBV in adults and children by using a multifaceted approach that includes immunization, post-exposure prophylaxis, and follow-up on all reported positive cases.

Hepatitis B Virus Statistics and Data

  • Approximately 800,000-1.4 million people are living with chronic HBV.
  • Approximately 600,000 people will die from HBV-related diseases every year.
  • 21,000 people in the Louisiana population is chronically infected with HBV.
  • CDC recommends that all newborns receive the "birth dose" of the HBV vaccine.
  • Our challenge: In Louisiana, only 55.3% of newborns receive the birth dose vaccine.

Intervention Strategies
Perinatal screening and universal infant vaccination can prevent infection at all ages. Adolescent vaccination is an important supplementary intervention until vaccinated infants reach adolescence.

Louisiana Standard of Care

  • All pregnant women should be screened for Hepatitis B in their first trimester.
  • The birth dose of HBV vaccine should be given to all newborns before they leave the hospital regardless of maternal HBV status.
  • Babies born to HBV positive mothers and those with an unknown HBV status should receive the birth dose of HBV vaccine and immune globulin within 12 hours of birth.
  • All three doses of the HBV vaccine series need to be completed, and for babies born to infected mothers, post-vaccine testing should be completed at 9-18 months of age.

Reporting Requirements for Hepatitis B VirusAccording to the LAC 51:II.105 (Sanitary Code for the State of Louisiana), Hepatitis B Virus in pregnant women is a Class B Disease. This means that positive cases are required to be reported within 1 business day of receiving a positive lab report. Timely response is necessary because there is great potential for transmission to others.

These cases can be reported to the Louisiana Perinatal Hepatitis B Program either by phone: (504) 838-5300 or by faxing the Perinatal Hepatitis B Surveillance Form found here to (504) 838-5206.

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