Hospital infection control: hepatitis B exposure: practice question

A Microbiology question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Microbiology · Hospital infection control: hepatitis B exposure

Sample item

A 24-year-old nurse who has never been vaccinated sustains a needle-stick injury from a patient who is HBsAg positive and HBeAg positive. Her baseline anti-HBs is negative. What is the most appropriate management?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

C. Hepatitis B immunoglobulin as soon as possible plus the first dose of hepatitis B vaccine at a different site

A non-immune person with percutaneous exposure to HBsAg-positive blood needs passive immunisation with HBIG, ideally within 24 hours and no later than 7 days, together with active immunisation starting at the same time at a different site, completing the vaccine series. Baseline testing and follow-up for HBsAg and anti-HBs are done afterwards.

Option by option

  • A. Hepatitis B immunoglobulin alone without starting vaccination

    HBIG alone gives temporary protection and leaves her unprotected after it wanes.

  • B. A 28-day course of lamivudine

    Antivirals are not the standard post-exposure prophylaxis for hepatitis B.

  • C. Hepatitis B immunoglobulin as soon as possible plus the first dose of hepatitis B vaccine at a different site (correct)

    Correct. Combined passive and active immunisation gives immediate and lasting protection.

  • D. Hepatitis B vaccine alone with no immunoglobulin

    Vaccine alone is slower to produce antibodies and misses immediate protection after a high-risk exposure.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Microbiology question

What is the answer to this Microbiology question?

The best answer is C, Hepatitis B immunoglobulin as soon as possible plus the first dose of hepatitis B vaccine at a different site. A non-immune person with percutaneous exposure to HBsAg-positive blood needs passive immunisation with HBIG, ideally within 24 hours and no later than 7 days, together with active immunisation starting at the same time at a different site, completing the vaccine series.

Why is "Hepatitis B immunoglobulin alone without starting vaccination" not the answer?

HBIG alone gives temporary protection and leaves her unprotected after it wanes.

Why is "A 28-day course of lamivudine" not the answer?

Antivirals are not the standard post-exposure prophylaxis for hepatitis B.

Why is "Hepatitis B vaccine alone with no immunoglobulin" not the answer?

Vaccine alone is slower to produce antibodies and misses immediate protection after a high-risk exposure.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Hospital infection control: hepatitis B exposure in Microbiology. Baseline testing and follow-up for HBsAg and anti-HBs are done afterwards.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Hospital infection control: hepatitis B exposure?

Make a one-line identity card for each organism: shape and stain, defining test, toxin, disease and drug. Then use the flashcards and the other Microbiology questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.