Challenge of hepatitis C in Egypt and hepatitis B in Mauritania

Table 3 Risk factors of transmission of hepatitis B in Mauritania and proposed interventions

Risk factors	Proposed interventions
Direct contact with infected blood and or handling blood or body fluids (job exposure)	Rigorous adherence to standard precautions in healthcare settings Completely avoid sharing needles or re-using disposable devices Education of healthcare providers and patients Hepatitis B vaccinations and assessment of response to vaccine (hepatitis B surface antibody) Use of safety-engineered devices and needless infusion systems Use of sharp object disposal containers Strict infection control measures upon cleaning and reusing medical equipment Appropriate screening of blood donors Post-exposure prophylaxis Antiviral therapy
Sharing needles or other equipment (such as cotton, spoons, and water) to inject drugs
Hemodialysis
Intimate contact with a person with HBV	Hepatitis B vaccination Avoid sharing toothbrushes, razors, etc.
Multiple sex partners or having unprotected sex with someone who is infected with the virus	Hepatitis B vaccination Protected sexual intercourse
Mother-to-Child transmission	Screening pregnant women Antiviral therapy to pregnant women with high DNA levels Passive-active immunization of newborns of mothers with HBV Universal vaccination of newborns
Body piercings, tattoos or acupuncture	Avoid body piercing and tattoos Strict infection control and prevention policies
IV drug users	Avoid sharing syringes and needles

HBV: Hepatitis B virus.