Management of Hepatitis B Virus–Infected Healthcare Workers: New CDC Recommendations

Routine disclosure of a healthcare worker's status to patients is no longer recommended.

The CDC's 1991 recommendations for the management of hepatitis B virus (HBV)–infected healthcare workers (HCWs) suggested that patients be routinely prenotified of a worker's seropositivity. Now, based on more than 20 years of scientific data and clinical experience, the CDC has revised its guidelines.

Highlights of the new recommendations:

HBV infection alone should not disqualify someone from studying or practicing surgery, dentistry, or medicine.
Prenotifying patients of a HCW's HBV seropositivity is no longer recommended. This change is based on the recognition that the risk for transmission is exceptionally low: Since 1994, there has been only one published report of HCW-to-patient transmission of HBV in the U.S. HBV transmission risk has…

Reviewing Author

Rajesh T. Gandhi, MD

Disclosures

Grant/Research SupportNIH

Editorial BoardsUpToDate; ID Images (idimages.org); Infectious Diseases Society of America COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines; International Antiviral Society–USA (Guidelines Committee)

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesHIV Medicine Association; Infectious Diseases Society of America (Board of Directors)

Rajesh T. Gandhi, MD

Disclosures

Grant/Research SupportNIH

Editorial BoardsUpToDate; ID Images (idimages.org); Infectious Diseases Society of America COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines; International Antiviral Society–USA (Guidelines Committee)

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesHIV Medicine Association; Infectious Diseases Society of America (Board of Directors)

Management of Hepatitis B Virus–Infected Healthcare Workers: New CDC Recommendations

Topics

Reviewing Author