MMWR

Shared glucometers linked to hepatitis B transmission in skilled nursing facility

August 12, 2025

A confirmed hepatitis B virus (HBV) transmission in 2024 between two residents of a North Carolina skilled nursing facility was traced to assisted monitoring of blood glucose (AMBG), according to a recent Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Both residents—one with chronic HBV and one newly diagnosed—had received AMBG using shared glucometers. Despite adherence to disinfection protocols, genomic sequencing revealed identical HBV strains, confirming transmission.

This case highlights the ongoing risk of HBV spread in long-term care settings, even with standard cleaning procedures. CDC recommends assigning glucometers to individual patients and improving hepatitis B vaccination rates among older adults with diabetes, who remain under-immunized. Physicians overseeing care in these facilities should reassess AMBG practices and advocate for targeted vaccination to prevent similar outbreaks.

Source:

Moore JR, et al. (2025, August 7). MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. Notes from the Field: Hepatitis B Virus Transmission Associated with Assisted Blood Glucose Monitoring in a Skilled Nursing Facility - North Carolina, 2024. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40773422/