Journal article
Hepatitis B vaccination and immune globulin administration in patients presenting to the emergency department following sexual assault
The American journal of emergency medicine, Vol.97, pp.188-192
11/2025
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2025.07.060
PMID: 40752052
Abstract
Objective
Sexual assault is unfortunately common in patients seen in the emergency department (ED). Following sexual assault, patients are at risk for several transmissible infections, including hepatitis B virus (HBV). HBV screening, HBV vaccination, and treatment with hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) is recommended in select scenarios by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, there is a paucity of evidence on the compliance with these recommendations in the ED.
Methods
This was a multi-center, retrospective cohort study utilizing the Emergency Medicine Pharmacotherapy Research NETwork (EMPHARM-NET). Patients aged 18 or older were included if they had an ED visit with an ICD-10 diagnosis code corresponding to sexual assault from January 1st, 2021 to January 1st, 2023. The primary endpoint was percent concordance with CDC recommendations for receipt of HBV vaccine and HBIG in the ED.
Results
A total of 1010 patients were included across ten EDs. Of the 633 patients (62.7 %) with no/unknown vaccine history, only 37 (5.8 %) received a dose of the HBV vaccine in the ED consistent with CDC recommendations. There were zero assailant(s) known to be HBV positive, but eight patients (0.8 %) received HBIG while in the ED. HBV serology testing was also performed in 63.6 % of patients but there was low compliance to CDC recommendations based upon serology testing results.
Conclusions
Opportunities exist to improve HBV vaccination rates and HBIG administration in accordance with CDC guidelines for patients presenting to the ED following sexual assault.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Hepatitis B vaccination and immune globulin administration in patients presenting to the emergency department following sexual assault
- Creators
- David Zimmerman - Duquesne UniversityMegan A. Rech - Edward Hines, Jr. VA HospitalJordan R. Covvey - Duquesne UniversityNicole M. Acquisto - University of Rochester Medical CenterGiles W. Slocum - Rush University Medical CenterGavin T. Howington - University of Kentucky HealthCareJordan A. Woolum - University of Kentucky HealthCareTara Flack - Indiana University HealthLance Ray - Denver Health Medical CenterBlake Porter - University of Vermont Medical CenterVivian Kum - Texas Health DallasElizabeth VanWert - University of MichiganBrett Faine - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- The American journal of emergency medicine, Vol.97, pp.188-192
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.ajem.2025.07.060
- PMID
- 40752052
- NLM abbreviation
- Am J Emerg Med
- ISSN
- 0735-6757
- eISSN
- 1532-8171
- Publisher
- W B SAUNDERS CO-ELSEVIER INC
- Grant note
- ADMA Biologics Inc.
Financial support was provided by ADMA Biologics Inc. ADMA Bio-logics was not involved in study design, data collection, data analysis, or authorship of this manuscript.
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 07/28/2025
- Date published
- 11/2025
- Academic Unit
- Emergency Medicine; Pharmacy Practice and Science
- Record Identifier
- 9984927206002771
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