<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".11" citation="COMAR 10.06.01.11" title_num="10" subtitle_num="06" chapter_num="01" heading="Hepatitis, Viral Type B.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Control of a Case. A physician in attendance upon a case having viral hepatitis type B shall educate that case on the:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Risks of sexual transmission, household contact transmission, maternal-infant transmission, and transmission by the sharing of hypodermic needles and other drug paraphernalia;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Availability of hepatitis B vaccine and hepatitis B immune globulin for contacts who have had sexual contact with a case of hepatitis B within the preceding 14 days, contacts who have percutaneous exposures to hepatitis B, and infants born to case mothers who carry hepatitis B virus at delivery, and the need for referring those contacts to health care providers for preventive treatment;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Importance of vaccination for viral hepatitis type A if the case is not already immune by reason of prior infection or prior vaccination; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Importance of testing pregnant women for hepatitis B surface antigen at each pregnancy.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Control of Contacts. A physician or health officer in attendance upon a contact of viral hepatitis type B shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Educate that contact about the availability of vaccine and hepatitis B immune globulin for contacts with exposure to the case’s blood or other infectious body fluids;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Recommend preventive treatment consistent with current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines based on type of exposure; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Require that infants born to hepatitis B surface antigen positive mothers:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Receive hepatitis B immune globulin and the first dose of hepatitis B vaccine within 12 hours of birth;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Receive the rest of the vaccination series; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Are tested for hepatitis B surface antigen and hepatitis B surface antibody at 9 to 15 months old.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Infection Control. Health care providers shall practice standard precautions.</text>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>