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Hepatitis C – contamination of toothbrushes: myth or reality?
Author(s) -
Lock G.,
Dirscherl M.,
Obermeier F.,
Gelbmann C. M.,
Hellerbrand C.,
Knöll A.,
Schölmerich J.,
Jilg W.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of viral hepatitis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.329
H-Index - 100
eISSN - 1365-2893
pISSN - 1352-0504
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2893.2006.00735.x
Subject(s) - toothbrush , saliva , medicine , dentistry , hepatitis c , contamination , chronic hepatitis , immunology , biology , virus , ecology , brush , electrical engineering , engineering
Summary. 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.