A 25-year-old woman whose blood tested positive for hepatitis B surface antigen gave birth to a full-term child. Which of the following therapies would be most likely to minimize the transmission of hepatitis B to the neonate?

Minimizing the transmission of hepatitis B from an infected mother to her neonate is crucial, and the most effective strategy involves both immediate post-exposure prophylaxis using hepatitis B immunoglobulin and vaccination. The administration of hepatitis B immunoglobulin provides passive immunity by supplying the infant with antibodies against the virus, which helps neutralize any virus the infant may be exposed to during birth.

In parallel, administering the hepatitis B vaccine stimulates the infant’s immune system to produce its own active immunity, providing longer-term protection against future infections. This dual approach significantly reduces the risk of the neonate acquiring hepatitis B from the mother.

While administering either the immunoglobulin or the vaccine alone would still offer some level of protection, the combination is the most effective. For instance, the immunoglobulin alone may not be sufficient for long-term immunity, and the vaccine without immunoglobulin does not provide immediate protection. Hence, the combination of both is the established protocol for newborns at risk of hepatitis B exposure from an infected mother.

Bottle-feeding, while not directly protective against the virus, is not a measure that can actively reduce the risk of transmission compared to the aforementioned medical interventions. The guidelines emphasize the importance of both treatments to ensure comprehensive protective measures