Antiviral Prophylaxis and Infant Vaccination to Prevent Perinatal Hepatitis B Infection

Most new hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections are acquired perinatally. In this study, pregnant women with HBsAg and HBeAg will receive tenofovir disoproxil fumarate during the last trimester of pregnancy and for two months following delivery. Their infants will receive hepatitis B (HB) immunization, starting with a first dose soon after birth. We hypothesize that the risk of mother-to-child transmission of HBV will be lower than 2%. The results of the study will help define policy to manage HBV infected pregnant women to prevent perinatal transmission.