What it means
A product made from donated plasma that is high in antibodies to hepatitis B. It gives passive immunity, protection that works at once but lasts only weeks to months, unlike the vaccinevak-SEENA product that trains the immune system to protect the body against a specific disease.Full entry , which teaches the body to make its own. It is given after exposure, such as a needlestick, sexual contact or birth to a mother with hepatitis B.
For the nurse
A baby born to a mother with hepatitis B gets HBIG and the first hepatitis B vaccine within 12 hours of birth, injected IM in different thighs.
At a glance
| Drug class | immune globulin |
|---|---|
| Brand names | HyperHEP B, Nabi-HB, HepaGam B |
| Also written | HBIG |
Related terms
vaccine
A product that trains the immune system to protect the body against a specific disease.
infectious disease
An illness caused by a germ such as a bacterium, virus, fungus or parasite.
immune system
The body's defense system of cells, tissues and organs that fights germs and other foreign substances.