Prevalence of anti-hepatitis B core in men who have sex with men attending a sexual health clinic in Brighton, UK, from 2012 to 2019

Mahmoud Gouda, Colin Fitzpatrick, Deborah Williams, Daniel Richardson Hepatitis B is sexually transmitted among men who have sex with men (MSM) and anti-hepatitis B core (anti-HBc) determines current or previous infection. A total of 331/3342 (10%) of MSM had a positive anti-HBc (0.3% had active hepatitis B), which was associated with being aged >30 years, previous hepatitis C, previous syphilis and being non-UK born (but not living with HIV, or having gonorrhoea or chlamydia), and the proportion testing positive reduced significantly between 2012 and 2019. Hepatitis B is endemic in MSM locally and further efforts are needed to enhance hepatitis B prevention strategies including vaccination.
Source: Sexual Health - Category: Sexual Medicine Authors: Source Type: research