Hepatitis B prophylaxisCurrent CDC guidelines call for the administration of hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) and/or hepatitis B vaccine. While the efficacy of the combination has not been evaluated in the needlestick injury setting, it has been shown to be the most efficacious approach in the perinatal setting. The approach has no contraindications during pregnancy and lactation.
Hepatitis C prophylaxisCDC guidelines acknowledge that there is no active post-exposure prophylaxis for HCV. There is some evidence that treatment with interferon alfa-2b may be beneficial preventing chronic hepatitis.
HIV prophylaxisCDC guidelines generally recommend a post-exposure prophylaxis protocol with 3 or more antiviral drugs, when it is known that the donor was HIV positive; however, when the viral load was low and none of the above noted risk factors are met, the CDC protocol utilizes 2 antiviral drugs.
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