An infant born to a mother who is positive for hepatitis B surface antigen should receive which treatment within 12 hours of birth?

When an infant is born to a mother who is positive for hepatitis B surface antigen, it is critical to implement immediate protective measures to prevent the transmission of hepatitis B. The recommended treatment for these infants is the administration of both hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) and the hepatitis B vaccine within 12 hours of birth.

The hepatitis B vaccine is essential in prompting the infant’s immune system to create its own antibodies against the hepatitis B virus. Meanwhile, HBIG provides immediate passive immunity, which is particularly important in the first hours of life. This combined approach greatly decreases the likelihood of the infant becoming infected with hepatitis B and is supported by guidelines from health authorities such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Administering only one of these treatments would not provide optimal protection. The immune globulin alone would not establish long-term immunity, while the vaccine alone would take time to elicit a proper immune response. Therefore, the simultaneous administration of both treatments offers the best protection against potential viral transmission.