Lock, Guntram and Dirscherl, M. and Obermeier, F. and Gelbmann, C. M. and Hellerbrand, C. and Knoell, A. (2006) Hepatitis C - contamination of toothbrushes: myth or reality? JOURNAL OF VIRAL HEPATITIS, 13 (9). pp. 571-573. ISSN 1352-0504,
Full text not available from this repository. (Request a copy)Abstract
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.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | VIRUS-INFECTION; HCV-RNA; TRANSMISSION; SALIVA; contamination; hepatitis C; saliva; toothbrush; transmission |
| Subjects: | 600 Technology > 610 Medical sciences Medicine |
| Divisions: | Medicine > Lehrstuhl für Innere Medizin I Medicine > Lehrstuhl für Medizinische Mikrobiologie und Hygiene |
| Depositing User: | Dr. Gernot Deinzer |
| Date Deposited: | 03 Feb 2021 07:08 |
| Last Modified: | 03 Feb 2021 07:08 |
| URI: | https://pred.uni-regensburg.de/id/eprint/34118 |
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