Final answer:
Hepatitis B resists host defenses by persisting in the liver, causing low-level damage which often goes unnoticed, thus avoiding strong immune reactions. In health-care settings, the transmission of HBV can be reduced by protective measures, proper protocols, and vaccination. The hepatitis B vaccine, a key preventive tool, is made from the virus's surface antigen and helps induce immunity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Hepatitis B resists host defenses in several ways. Firstly, the hepatitis B virus (HBV) can maintain a persistent infection in the liver, causing chronic liver damage. This low level of damage is often unnoticed, leading to many individuals being unaware of their infection. In this chronic state, the virus continues to replicate at low levels without eliciting strong immune responses, allowing it to evade the immune system.
Preventative measures in health-care settings are crucial to reduce HBV transmission. These include using protective gear like gloves and face masks, utilizing disposable syringes and needles, proper handling of blood products, surface disinfection with recommended solutions such as 10% bleach, and vaccination. Post-exposure, hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) and the hepatitis B vaccine are important for immediate care following an exposure to HBV.
The hepatitis B vaccine is a non-infectious subunit vaccine derived from the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and its administration is part of the standard vaccination schedule. This vaccine helps to induce immunity against HBV, reducing the chances of chronic infection and associated complications such as cirrhosis or liver cancer.