Published online Nov 7, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i41.15358
Revised: May 31, 2014
Accepted: June 26, 2014
Published online: November 7, 2014
Processing time: 352 Days and 11.2 Hours
Core tip: With immunomodulatory drugs being used for treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients, it is important that IBD patients be protected against preventable infections, specifically hepatitis B. Compared to previous literature, the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in IBD patients in a large tertiary gastroenterology practice in the United States was not higher than Europe. However, a significant portion of IBD patients were not routinely screened and vaccinated against HBV at a large tertiary gastroenterology practice. This corroborates the need for gastroenterologists and primary care physicians to be cognizant of treating IBD patients for preventable diseases in addition to managing IBD itself. Further education and use of electronic record prompters may be needed to increase prevention of HBV.