Dr KK Answers: How long hepatitis B virus survive?

HBV can survive on counter tops for seven days and remain capable of causing infection.

(About the author: Dr K K Aggarwal is Padmashri and Dr B C Roy National Awardee, President Heart Care Foundation of India, Dean Board of Medical Education Moolchand Medcity, Sr Physician & Cardiologist, Visiting professor Clinical Research DIPSAR, Past President Delhi Medical Association, Past Academic and Research Wing Head IMA, Chairman Ethics Committee Delhi Medical Council. ) 

Dr KK Answers: Can hepatitis B virus transmit through fomites?

HBV can transmit by fomites such as finger-stick devices used to obtain blood for glucose measurements, multi-dose medication vials, jet gun injectors, and endoscopes.

(About the author: Dr K K Aggarwal is Padmashri and Dr B C Roy National Awardee, President Heart Care Foundation of India, Dean Board of Medical Education Moolchand Medcity, Sr Physician & Cardiologist, Visiting professor Clinical Research DIPSAR, Past President Delhi Medical Association, Past Academic and Research Wing Head IMA, Chairman Ethics Committee Delhi Medical Council. )

Dr KK Answers: How does hepatitis B virus transmit?

Hepatitis HBV can transmit by percutaneous and mucosal exposures and human bites. 

(About the author: Dr K K Aggarwal is Padmashri and Dr B C Roy National Awardee, President Heart Care Foundation of India, Dean Board of Medical Education Moolchand Medcity, Sr Physician & Cardiologist, Visiting professor Clinical Research DIPSAR, Past President Delhi Medical Association, Past Academic and Research Wing Head IMA, Chairman Ethics Committee Delhi Medical Council. )

Dr KK Answers: Which is more dangerous hepatitis B or C?

HBV is the most infectious of the three ( hepatitis B, c and HIV). 

(About the author: Dr K K Aggarwal is Padmashri and Dr B C Roy National Awardee, President Heart Care Foundation of India, Dean Board of Medical Education Moolchand Medcity, Sr Physician & Cardiologist, Visiting professor Clinical Research DIPSAR, Past President Delhi Medical Association, Past Academic and Research Wing Head IMA, Chairman Ethics Committee Delhi Medical Council. )

Dr KK Answers: How long hepatitis C virus last on the surface?

 Hepatitis C virus can survive on environmental surfaces for at least 16 hours but not four or seven days.

(About the author: Dr K K Aggarwal is Padmashri and Dr B C Roy National Awardee, President Heart Care Foundation of India, Dean Board of Medical Education Moolchand Medcity, Sr Physician & Cardiologist, Visiting professor Clinical Research DIPSAR, Past President Delhi Medical Association, Past Academic and Research Wing Head IMA, Chairman Ethics Committee Delhi Medical Council. ) 

Dr KK Answers: Can hepatitis C transmit through conjunctiva?

Transmission of HCV from blood splashes to the conjunctiva has been described.

(About the author: Dr K K Aggarwal is Padmashri and Dr B C Roy National Awardee, President Heart Care Foundation of India, Dean Board of Medical Education Moolchand Medcity, Sr Physician & Cardiologist, Visiting professor Clinical Research DIPSAR, Past President Delhi Medical Association, Past Academic and Research Wing Head IMA, Chairman Ethics Committee Delhi Medical Council. ) 

Dr KK Answers: What are the chances of hepatitis C after hepatitis C positive needle stick injury?

The incidence of seroconversion to hepatitis C virus after unintentional needle sticks or sharps exposures from an hepatitis C virus positive source is 1.8 percent (range, 0-7 percent).

(About the author: Dr K K Aggarwal is Padmashri and Dr B C Roy National Awardee, President Heart Care Foundation of India, Dean Board of Medical Education Moolchand Medcity, Sr Physician & Cardiologist, Visiting professor Clinical Research DIPSAR, Past President Delhi Medical Association, Past Academic and Research Wing Head IMA, Chairman Ethics Committee Delhi Medical Council. ) 

Dr KK Answers: What can not spread hepatitis B infection ?

Hepatitis B cannot be spread by hugging or kissing; sharing eating utensils or cups; sneezing or coughing and breastfeeding.

(About the author: Dr K K Aggarwal is Padmashri and Dr B C Roy National Awardee, President Heart Care Foundation of India, Dean Board of Medical Education Moolchand Medcity, Sr Physician & Cardiologist, Visiting professor Clinical Research DIPSAR, Past President Delhi Medical Association, Past Academic and Research Wing Head IMA, Chairman Ethics Committee Delhi Medical Council. ) 

Dr KK Answers: Can hepatitis B positive patient take alcohol?

Alcohol should be avoided. It can worsen liver damage. All types of alcoholic beverages are harmful to the liver. Hepatitis B positive patients can develop liver complications even with small amounts of alcohol.

(About the author: Dr K K Aggarwal is Padmashri and Dr B C Roy National Awardee, President Heart Care Foundation of India, Dean Board of Medical Education Moolchand Medcity, Sr Physician & Cardiologist, Visiting professor Clinical Research DIPSAR, Past President Delhi Medical Association, Past Academic and Research Wing Head IMA, Chairman Ethics Committee Delhi Medical Council. ) 

Dr KK Answers: Can hepatitis B virus positive doctor operate?

The risk of hepatitis B virus transmission from infected doctor is greatest when the hepatits B virus carrier doctor is also HBeAg positive.

Transmission from HBeAg negative carriers with high HBV DNA levels can also occur.

Transmission from a needle stick is unlikely when serum HBV DNA is below 10(7) genome equivalents/mL.

Those doctors with serum HBV DNA levels between 5 X10(9) and 6.35 X 10(4) genome equivalents/mL can transmit the disease and should be treated.

Doctors who are HBeAg positive or who have a circulating viral load greater than 10(4) GE/mL (roughly 2,000 IU/mL) should use double gloves for all invasive procedures and should not perform exposure-prone procedures.

Doctor with a higher viral load should undergo antiviral therapy and resume performance of exposure-prone procedures after HBV DNA is suppressed. 

(About the author: Dr K K Aggarwal is Padmashri and Dr B C Roy National Awardee, President Heart Care Foundation of India, Dean Board of Medical Education Moolchand Medcity, Sr Physician & Cardiologist, Visiting professor Clinical Research DIPSAR, Past President Delhi Medical Association, Past Academic and Research Wing Head IMA, Chairman Ethics Committee Delhi Medical Council. ) 

Dr KK Answers: Can hepatitis B spread through sexual transmission?

Sexual transmission is the major mode of spread of hepatitis B virus. Heterosexual transmission accounts for 40% of the new hepatitis B virus infection. Transmission among men having sex with men accounts for 25%.

(About the author: Dr K K Aggarwal is Padmashri and Dr B C Roy National Awardee, President Heart Care Foundation of India, Dean Board of Medical Education Moolchand Medcity, Sr Physician & Cardiologist, Visiting professor Clinical Research DIPSAR, Past President Delhi Medical Association, Past Academic and Research Wing Head IMA, Chairman Ethics Committee Delhi Medical Council. ) 

Dr KK Answers: How to screen for hepatitis B positive blood donor?

Both HBsAg and anti-HBc (hepatitis B core antibody) are used for blood donor screening. Anti-HBc is done to detect donors who are in the window phase during recovery from acute hepatitis B or who have low level chronic HBV infection. 0.4 % people indulge in high-risk behavior within the three months before blood donation.

(About the author: Dr K K Aggarwal is Padmashri and Dr B C Roy National Awardee, President Heart Care Foundation of India, Dean Board of Medical Education Moolchand Medcity, Sr Physician & Cardiologist, Visiting professor Clinical Research DIPSAR, Past President Delhi Medical Association, Past Academic and Research Wing Head IMA, Chairman Ethics Committee Delhi Medical Council. ) 

Dr KK Answers: Can breastfeeding increase the risk of hepatitis B transmission?

Although HBV DNA has been detected in the colostrum of HBsAg positive mothers. Breastfeeding does not appear to increase the risk of transmission.

(About the author: Dr K K Aggarwal is Padmashri and Dr B C Roy National Awardee, President Heart Care Foundation of India, Dean Board of Medical Education Moolchand Medcity, Sr Physician & Cardiologist, Visiting professor Clinical Research DIPSAR, Past President Delhi Medical Association, Past Academic and Research Wing Head IMA, Chairman Ethics Committee Delhi Medical Council. ) 

Dr KK Answers: Should HBsAg be done in pregnancy?

Testing for HBsAg should be performed on all women at the first prenatal visit and repeated late in pregnancy in those at high risk for HBV infection.

(About the author: Dr K K Aggarwal is Padmashri and Dr B C Roy National Awardee, President Heart Care Foundation of India, Dean Board of Medical Education Moolchand Medcity, Sr Physician & Cardiologist, Visiting professor Clinical Research DIPSAR, Past President Delhi Medical Association, Past Academic and Research Wing Head IMA, Chairman Ethics Committee Delhi Medical Council. ) 

Dr KK Answers: Can hepatitis B transmission occur through amniocentesis?

The risk of transmission during amniocentesis is low. The risk is further reduced if the mother is HBeAg negative and during procedure 22-gauge needle is used.

(About the author: Dr K K Aggarwal is Padmashri and Dr B C Roy National Awardee, President Heart Care Foundation of India, Dean Board of Medical Education Moolchand Medcity, Sr Physician & Cardiologist, Visiting professor Clinical Research DIPSAR, Past President Delhi Medical Association, Past Academic and Research Wing Head IMA, Chairman Ethics Committee Delhi Medical Council. ) 

Dr KK Answers: Can hepatitis B transmission occur through placenta?

Transplacental passage of HBV is rare. 

 (About the author: Dr K K Aggarwal is Padmashri and Dr B C Roy National Awardee, President Heart Care Foundation of India, Dean Board of Medical Education Moolchand Medcity, Sr Physician & Cardiologist, Visiting professor Clinical Research DIPSAR, Past President Delhi Medical Association, Past Academic and Research Wing Head IMA, Chairman Ethics Committee Delhi Medical Council.)  

Dr KK Answers: Can cesarean prevent mother to neonate transmission of hepatitis B?

There is no evidence that cesarean section prevents maternal-infant transmission. 

(About the author: Dr K K Aggarwal is Padmashri and Dr B C Roy National Awardee, President Heart Care Foundation of India, Dean Board of Medical Education Moolchand Medcity, Sr Physician & Cardiologist, Visiting professor Clinical Research DIPSAR, Past President Delhi Medical Association, Past Academic and Research Wing Head IMA, Chairman Ethics Committee Delhi Medical Council. )

Dr KK Answers: How effective is neonatal vaccination in preventing hepatitis B infection?

Neonatal vaccination is 95% protective.

(About the author: Dr K K Aggarwal is Padmashri and Dr B C Roy National Awardee, President Heart Care Foundation of India, Dean Board of Medical Education Moolchand Medcity, Sr Physician & Cardiologist, Visiting professor Clinical Research DIPSAR, Past President Delhi Medical Association, Past Academic and Research Wing Head IMA, Chairman Ethics Committee Delhi Medical Council. )

Dr KK Answers: How common is perinatal hepatitis B transmission?

The infection rate among infants born to HBeAg-positive mothers is 90 percent. Maternal-infant transmission may occur in utero, at the time of birth, or after birth. 

(About the author: Dr K K Aggarwal is Padmashri and Dr B C Roy National Awardee, President Heart Care Foundation of India, Dean Board of Medical Education Moolchand Medcity, Sr Physician & Cardiologist, Visiting professor Clinical Research DIPSAR, Past President Delhi Medical Association, Past Academic and Research Wing Head IMA, Chairman Ethics Committee Delhi Medical Council. ) 

Dr KK Answers: Will all acute hepatitis B infections end up with chronic disease?

The rate of progression from acute to chronic HBV infection is approximately 90 percent for perinatally acquired infection, 20 to 50 percent for infections between the age of 1 and 5 years and less than 5 percent for adult acquired infection.

(About the author: Dr K K Aggarwal is Padmashri and Dr B C Roy National Awardee, President Heart Care Foundation of India, Dean Board of Medical Education Moolchand Medcity, Sr Physician & Cardiologist, Visiting professor Clinical Research DIPSAR, Past President Delhi Medical Association, Past Academic and Research Wing Head IMA, Chairman Ethics Committee Delhi Medical Council. )