Post exposure prevention of hepatitis B

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If you are not immunised and have been exposed to the virus you should see a doctor immediately. (For example, if you are a health care worker and you have a needlestick injury.) You can be given an injection of antibodies called immunoglobulin as well as starting a course of immunisation. This may prevent infection from developing.

Preventing infection in new-born babies at risk

All pregnant women in the UK are offered a hepatitis B blood test. If the mother is infected, her baby is given injections of antibodies and also immunised straight after birth. (The transmission of the virus to the baby is thought to mainly occur during childbirth and not during the pregnancy.) With this treatment there is a good chance of preventing infection developing in the baby.

If I am infected, how can I prevent passing on the virus to others?

If you have a current hepatitis B infection you should:

use condoms when having sex. Also, sexual partners may wish to be tested for hepatitis B, and immunised if appropriate.
not share any injecting equipment such as needles, syringes, etc.
not donate blood or semen, or carry a donor card.
not share razors, toothbrushes, etc, that may be contaminated with blood.
cover any cuts or wounds with a dressing.
if any of your blood spills onto the floor or other surfaces following an accident, make sure it is cleaned away with bleach.