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Hepatitis C Toothbrush Contamination
November 22, 2006
Separating personal items used by a person with Hepatitis C from other household members to prevent transmission may seem overly cautious. However, a recently published study confirms the risk of spreading Hepatitis C by sharing a toothbrush.
Hepatitis C – contamination of toothbrushes: myth or reality?
Chronic hepatitis C patients are advised not to share toothbrushes, razors, nail-scissors or other personal articles that potentially may have been in contact with blood, with others. This study examines the contamination of toothbrushes in patients with chronic hepatitis C as a model for a possible unconventional way of transmission. In 30 patients with chronic hepatitis C, 2 mL of saliva (before and after toothbrushing) and the toothbrush rinsing water after toothbrushing were tested for HCV-RNA. Saliva before and after toothbrushing was positive for HCV-RNA in nine (30%) and 11 patients (36.7%), respectively. Twelve of the toothbrush rinsing water specimens (40%) tested HCV-RNA-positive. In six of these 12 patients, the 'native' saliva had been negative for HCV-RNA. Patients with HCV-RNA-positive toothbrush rinsing water showed no significant differences from those with negative rinsing water with respect to certain clinical, biochemical and virological parameters. In conclusion, our study demonstrates a contamination with HCV-RNA of a considerable portion of toothbrushes used by hepatitis C patients, suggesting at least a theoretical risk of infection by sharing these objects and strengthening the recommendations to take care of a clear separation of these personal care objects between patients and their household members.
Source:
Journal of Viral Hepatitis
Volume 13 Page 571 - September 2006
doi:10.1111/j.1365-2893.2006.00735.x
Volume 13 Issue 9
Posted by Editors at November 22, 2006 9:22 AM
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