Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0019163 (hepatitis B)
 38,309 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

At least five viruses are recognised as causes of acute hepatitis which, in some instances, can develop into chronic disease. The viruses of hepatitis A (HAV) and hepatitis E (HEV) are spread predominantly by the faecal-oral route, whereas hepatitis B, C and D viruses (HBV, HCV and HDV) are spread by blood and other body fluids. The incubation period ranges from about four weeks for HAV to three months for HBV. The diagnosis mainly depends on the detection of various serological markers. The control of infection in the United Kingdom has been facilitated by the introduction of vaccines for HAV and HBV and screening blood for HBV and HCV. Good hygiene and sanitation, the availability of sterile equipment, and measures to modify the behaviour of high-risk groups such as injecting drug users, are also important in the prevention and control of viral hepatitis.
Commun Dis Rep CDR Rev 1992 Sep 11
PMID:The virology and serology of hepatitis: an overview. 128 25

This paper summarises the views of the PHLS Hepatitis Subcommittee on prophylaxis after exposure to known and potential sources of hepatitis B virus (HBV) at work and in the community, and expands on the guidance on hepatitis B immunisation and the prevention of occupational exposure to blood given elsewhere. It defines significant exposure and gives guidance on incident recording, risk assessment, testing and storage of incident-related blood specimens and follow-up. It recommends that HBV prophylaxis should be determined by assessment of the likely infectivity of the source and of the HBV status of the person exposed.
Commun Dis Rep CDR Rev 1992 Aug 14
PMID:Exposure to hepatitis B virus: guidance on post-exposure prophylaxis. PHLS Hepatitis Subcommittee. 128 42

In the period March 1989 to October 1990, Leeds Public Health Laboratory received reports of 2975 needlestick and similar incidents involving National Health Service staff where there was a risk of transmission of hepatitis B virus. Despite an active immunisation programme in the hospitals where staff worked, 50% of those involved showed no evidence of immunity. In reviewing their immunisation programmes, health authorities should take account of those groups of staff who are at risk of exposure and ensure that all those included in the programme are encouraged to take up the offer of immunisation.
Commun Dis Rep CDR Rev 1992 Feb 28
PMID:Hazardous incidents and immunity to hepatitis B. 128 96

Communicable diseases remain a major problem in New Zealand; one which often only comes to the attention of management when an outbreak occurs and health care dollars are required for disease control. Hepatitis B and rheumatic fever remain the two diseases that place New Zealand in the developing nation league. Overall, the impact on mortality is low (only 5% in the 1-14 year age group) as is the impact on potential years of life lost. Morbidity figures are not known with any degree of accuracy as they are dependent on a notification system acknowledged to be deficient and hospital discharge data which include only a fraction of cases for a few serious diseases. The main preventive action hinges on the childhood immunisation programme which has undergone recent change. The true impact of environmental hygiene measures, health promotion and education has not been evaluated.
Commun Dis Rep CDR Rev 1992 Feb 28
PMID:Communicable disease in New Zealand. 128 98

Results are presented from unlinked anonymous HIV-1 testing of specimens collected during 1990 from 8996 genito-urinary medicine clinic attenders, 1421 injecting drug users, and 69,091 pregnant women. One-fifth of homo/bisexual men attending London genito-urinary medicine clinics were infected with HIV-1. The figure was 4% outside London. The prevalence of HIV-1 infection among male heterosexual attenders at genito-urinary medicine clinics who were not known to have injected drugs, was 1% in London and 0.2% outside London. Women attending genito-urinary medicine clinics in London, who were not known to have injected drugs had a prevalence of HIV-1 infection of 0.2% (1 in 440). None of 2045 women attending genito-urinary medicine clinics outside the Thames regions was found to be infected with HIV-1 although one woman was infected with HIV-2. The prevalence rate for HIV-1 infection in injecting drug users was 1.1%. Of those who began injecting between 1986 and 1990, however, 22% had evidence of hepatitis B infection. The prevalence of HIV-1 infection among pregnant women receiving antenatal care was 0.19% (1 in 515) in inner London, 0.07% (1 in 1440) in the rest of the Thames regions and 1 in 16,000 in another region of the country. Two pregnant women, one in inner London and one elsewhere in the Thames regions, were infected with HIV-2. The data suggest that, so far, the epidemic has concentrated among homo/bisexual males, injecting drug users and persons attending genito-urinary medicine clinics, especially in the London area. There are indications that the prevalence of HIV-1 infection is increasing among heterosexuals in inner London.
CDR (Lond Engl Rev) 1991 Jun 21
PMID:The unlinked anonymous HIV prevalence monitoring programme in England and Wales: preliminary results. 166 80

Twelve outbreaks of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection associated with HBV infected surgical health care workers (11 surgeons; one perfusion technician) were reported between 1975 and 1990 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. A total of 95 infections was identified. Transmission rates ranged from one to nine per cent but were higher for patients who had undergone major surgical procedures. The number of infections reported under-estimates the total number of patients who will have acquired HBV infection from HBV infected surgeons during this period because subclinical infections will have been missed and other outbreaks may not have been recognised or reported.
CDR (Lond Engl Rev) 1991 Jul 19
PMID:Outbreaks of hepatitis B virus infection associated with infected surgical staff. 166 83

In autumn 1990 three young men developed acute hepatitis B. They belonged to a group of 24 young male volunteers who had taken part in a trial in a residential unit for drug trials in July and August 1990. A further case of acute hepatitis B and a carrier of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) were detected by serological testing of the volunteers. Volunteers, in two groups of twelve, had occupied the unit at different times during the trial. The four cases occurred in the group that contained the HBeAg positive carrier. The carrier had also taken part in two trials on the unit in 1989. He was HBeAg positive then, but transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) did not occur. Although blood samples were taken in each of the three trials, intravenous cannulas were used only in the 1990 trial. It is likely that HBV was transmitted by blood to blood contact between volunteers when blood was sampled through cannulas during the trial. This outbreak might have been prevented. If an infection control policy had been applied to avoid hazardous practices, and volunteers had been screened for HBV before entry and the carrier excluded (as recommended by the Association of Independent Clinical Research Contractors), the outbreak would not have occurred. Volunteers for drug trials in residential units should be screened for HBV, human immune deficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV), and those found to be infected should not be accepted.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Commun Dis Rep CDR Rev 1994 Jan 07
PMID:Hepatitis B outbreak in a drug trials unit: investigation and recommendations. 750 38

Injecting drug users who share equipment may transmit and acquire bloodborne virus infections, including HIV, hepatitis B virus, and hepatitis C virus. Even without sharing, injection with non-sterile equipment, drugs, or mixing agents may result in infection due to bacteria or fungi. Estimates of the number of people who are currently at risk of infection from injecting drug use are needed in order to plan services and care, and to interpret surveillance data. This paper examines the data from registries of drug use and two recent surveys of the general population from which estimates of the number of current injecting drug users in England and Wales have been derived. Drug registries include only those whose drug use is identified during contact with drug or medical services, so these sources provide minimum estimates but may be used to monitor trends: 25,706 drug users in England and Wales were notified to the Home Office in 1993, 12,253 of whom were current injectors. Estimates derived from surveys of the general population suggest, however, that between 51,900 (95% confidence interval (CI): 33,000-71,600) and 77,700 (95% CI: 4100-151,200) people in England and Wales are at risk of infection from current injecting drug use, of whom between 10,400 (95% CI: 7200-13,800) and 15,500 (95% CI: 800-30,200) are at risk of bloodborne virus infections as a result of sharing injecting equipment. In the 16 to 34 year age group about one in 200 men, and one in 400 to 500 women may be current injectors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Commun Dis Rep CDR Rev 1995 Mar 03
PMID:How many people in England and Wales risk infection from injecting drug use? 753 91

Cadavers may pose infection hazards to people who handle them. None of the organisms that caused mass death in the past--for example, plague, cholera, typhoid, tuberculosis, anthrax, smallpox--is likely to survive long in buried human remains. Items such as mould spores or lead dust are much greater risks to those involved in exhumations. Infectious conditions and pathogens in the recently deceased that present particular risks include tuberculosis, group A streptococcal infection, gastrointestinal organisms, the agents that cause transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease), hepatitis B and C viruses, HIV, and possibly meningitis and septicaemia (especially meningococcal). The use of appropriate protective clothing and the observance of Control of Substances Hazardous to Health regulations, will protect all who handle cadavers against infectious hazards.
Commun Dis Rep CDR Rev 1995 Apr 28
PMID:The infection hazards of human cadavers. 774 55

Funeral directors, control of infection officers, chief environmental health officers, and consultants in communicable disease control were surveyed to identify the sources and nature of advice about infectious hazards from the deceased available to undertakers. They were asked about management responsibilities, policies, particular activities (viewing, hygienic preparation, bagging, embalming, and final disposal by burial or cremation), specific diseases (hepatitis B, HIV infection, tuberculosis, meningitis, septicaemia, and salmonellosis), and repatriation. A wide range of opinions and advice was received on each topic. Medical personnel need a greater understanding of the work of funeral directors. Policies based on a realistic assessment of risk should be agreed.
Commun Dis Rep CDR Rev 1995 Apr 28
PMID:Infection in the deceased: a survey of management. 774 56


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