People at high risk for hepatitis B (HBV) should be screened for the
viral infection, according to a draft recommendation from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.
If
approved, the recommendation would apply mainly to people born in
countries where the prevalence of the disease is greater than 2%, the
task force said.
But it would also apply to people born in the
U.S. but not vaccinated as infants and whose parents come from regions
with a high prevalence of HBV infection.
People living with HIV,
injection drug users, and men who have sex with men would also be
considered as being at high risk for HBV infection, as would patients
with a weakened immune system or undergoing treatment for kidney
failure.
The draft recommendation is available for comment until March 10 on the task force Web site.
Source: MedPage TodayLabels: USPSTF HBV Screening Recommendations