Labor and Delivery Hospitals

Birthing Hospital
  • Birthing hospitals play an important role in our perinatal Hepatitis B prevention program (PHPP) by providing timely prophylaxis to help prevent the transmission of Hepatitis B from mother to baby. 

  • Our program reviews birth records to ensure that infants in our program received prophylaxis within 12 hours of birth and in separate limbs.

  • In 2021, over 60 infants were born to Hepatitis B positive mothers throughout San Diego County.

4 Actions to Complete

1) Review mother's laboratory results

  • Pregnant women should have been tested for Hepatitis B during their pregnancy
  • Verify if there is a Hepatitis B surface antigen lab in mother's records
  • If there is no Hepatitis B surface antigen lab on record, please notify the provider so that the order can be placed
  • Please do not use transcription notes to verify Hepatitis B status

2) Follow guidelines for administration of Hepatitis B Vaccine and Hepatitis B Immune Globulin (HBIG).

  Infant birth weight ≥ 2000 grams  Infant birth weight < 2000 grams
Mother's Hep B status is POSITIVE              Administer Hep B vaccine and HBIG within 12 hours of birth in separate limbs.
Mother's Hep B status is UNKNOWN Administer Hep B vaccine within 12 hours of birth. If you find out that mother is Hep B positive, HBIG should be given as soon as possible, and no later than 7 days after birth.
 Administer Hep B vaccine and HBIG within 12 hours of birth.
Mother's Hep B status is NEGATIVE Administer Hep B vaccine within 24 hours of birth (note infant can be ≥ 2000 grams). Administer 1 dose at chronological age 1 month or hospital discharge (whichever is earlier and even if weight is still < 2000 grams).

3) Notify our program

  • Once a Hepatitis B positive pregnant woman has delivered at your hospital, please send us the following information
    • Delivery record form
    • Infant's medication administration record (MAR) that shows the time and sites that both Hepatitis B vaccine and Hepatitis B Immune Globulin (HBIG) were administered
    • Infant's delivery record that shows the date and time of birth, as well as the infant's birth weight
  • Information can be sent via:

4) Post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) Protocol (if applicable)

  • PEP errors include:
    • Hepatitis B vaccine or HBIG was administered past 12 hours of birth
    • Hepatitis B vaccine and HBIG were administered in the same thigh
    • Hepatitis B vaccine or HBIG was not administered
  • Use this form found here to explain why the PEP error occurred
  • Please call us 866-358-2966 option 5 once you have discovered the PEP error has occurred
  • Once the form is completed, please send it to us and NOT CDPH via email or fax:

Resources and Additional Information 

We really appreciate your assistance and continued cooperation to help make the perinatal Hepatitis B prevention program a success in San Diego County.

Please see some additional resources below regarding birthing hospital guidance.

Perinatal Hepatitis B Delivery Hospital Brochure

 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at 866-358-2966 and select 'option 5' to speak to a public health nurse or email us at PHS-PerinatalHepB.HHSA@sdcounty.ca.gov.