[Prevention of viral hepatitis B in exposure to carriers of HBsAG in Plzen in 1998].

In 1998 in five Plzen laboratories 128 HBsAg carrierships were found. In 64.8% the patient was evaluated at the time of sampling as a "healthy carrier". Based on the assessed positivity family contacts of these subjects were offered examination of hepatic markers of free immunization. Most people responded because of personal contact with a HBsAg positive patient. Postinfection markers (HBsAg, anti-HBcAg) were detected in 20.6%, in the control group in 5.1% of the examined subjects. 64% sensitive subjects were immunized. Based on the financial costs of the study, it was calculated that examination and immunization of contacts of HBsAg positive subjects in the whole republic would require a sum of 46 million crowns. If laboratory examinations of family contacts were left out the costs would be cca 75%.