Prevention
HDV infection can be prevented primarily through avoidance of risky behavior. To reduce the possibility of parenteral transmission, individuals can practice safe sex methods and take care to not share IV drug needles or supplies.
Pre- or post-exposure prophylaxis with HBV vaccine or HBV immune globulin can prevent HDV-HBV co-infection.
Treatment
No specific drug treatment exists for Hepatitis D infections.
The only licensed drug that has proven beneficial in treating chronic HDV infection is alfa interferon (IFN-a).
Shanferon (recombinant interferon Alfa 2b) by Shantha Biotechnics Ltd
Vaccination
Appropriate vaccination against HBV protects individuals from delta agent infection co-infection.
Three HBV vaccines exist today: Recombivax HB (Chiron Corp & Merck), Engerix-B (GSK), and Twinrix (GSK). Both Recombivax HB and Engerix-B vaccines are non-infectious recombinant vaccinse made from purified surface antigens grown in yeast cells that carry the surface antigen gene for HBV (HBsAg). Twinrix is a bivalent vaccine containing inactivated Hepatitis A virus vaccine, Havrix (GSK), and HBV vaccine, Engerix-B.
Individuals chronically infected with HBV are at risk of contracting HDV superinfection. An HDV vaccine would prevent superinfection, but has yet to be developed.
CDC Vaccination Recommendations