COMDTINST 6230.8A
04 DEC 1998
handling practices. Long-term prevention of this infection can be achieved through
immunization with a two-dose series of Hepatitis A vaccine. Immunization eliminates
the need for post-exposure prophylaxis. This would be cost effective and it would also
limit the risk of serious complications that in the past have been noted with the use of
blood products such as immune globulin (IG).
5.
GENERAL PREVENTIVE MEASURES.
a.
Operations that bring Coast Guard members in contact with persons with HAV should
not, by themselves, put members at risk for disease transmission. Maintenance of
uncontaminated food and water sources and good personal hygiene will minimize
exposure to HAV. Hand washing reduces the risk of HAV transmission, especially the
risk associated with food preparation. The effectiveness of thorough hand washing in
the control of HAV transmission must be emphasized. In addition, all human wastes
must be properly disposed. Stool and liquid wastes are most safely disposed of into a
community sewer system or septic tank. This prevents further contact with any
contaminated wastes prior to treatment or degradation. Coast Guard vessels have
integrated food, water, and sanitation systems which, if not violated, should ensure
against shipboard outbreaks of Hepatitis A.
b.
To reduce the risk of person-to-person spread in health care situations, gloves must be
worn when working with infected patients, particularly when there is risk of contact
with blood, urine, or feces. Universal infection control precautions will greatly reduce
the risk of HAV transmission in health care settings.
6.
USE OF HEPATITIS A VACCINE.
a.
Except for personnel found previously immune to Hepatitis A, the following personnel
shall be vaccinated with Hepatitis A vaccine:
(1)
All new active duty accessions, both regular and reserve.
(2)
Deploying military personnel, and as a condition of receiving government travel
orders, civilian employees and accompanying family members who travel or
deploy to geographic areas with known high risk of Hepatitis A, and personnel
with a high likelihood of repetitive travel to high-risk geographic areas.
(3)
All regular and reserve personnel assigned to WHECs, WMECs, WPBs, Port
Security Units (PSUs), Harbor Defense Commands (HDCs). Additional personnel
include all other members who have a high likelihood of exposure to unsafe food
or water sources, due to assigned missions that require rapid deployment to
geographic areas with known high-risk of Hepatitis A (i.e. flood relief areas). The
decision to immunize the entire complement of
2
Previous Page
