USPSTF Releases Draft Hepatitis B Recommendations

The US Preventive Services Task Force has released new draft recommendations for the screening of individuals at high risk for hepatitis B virus (HBV).

The draft statement is currently available for public comment and will be until June 1, 2020. It serves as an update to the group’s 2014 recommendations and is based upon a literature review including randomized controlled trials and cohort studies published from 2014 to August 2019.

In line with the 2014 recommendation, the USPSTF recommends screening in nonpregnant adolescents and adults at increased risk for HBV infection (grade B recommendation). Those at high risk include individuals born in countries where 2% or more of the population have hepatitis B, those born in the US who have not received the HBV vaccine in infancy, individuals who use injected drugs, men who have sex with men, people with HIV, and those with sex partners, needle-sharing contacts, and household members with HBV.

“The USPSTF concludes with moderate certainty that screening for HBV infection in adolescents and adults at increased risk for infection has moderate net benefit,” they wrote.

—Michael Potts

Reference:
US Preventive Services Task Force. Hepatitis B virus infection in nonpregnant adolescents and adults: screening. https://uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/draft-recommendation/hepatitis-b-virus-infection-screening-nonpregnant. Updated May 5, 2020. Accessed May 6, 2020.