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Endoscopy 1981; 13(6): 238-239
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-1021694
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Prevention of Hepatitis B Virus Transmission by the Gastrointestinal Fibrescope

Successful disinfection with an aldehyde liquidU. Seefeld, G. Bansky, M. Jaeger, M. Schmid
  • Department of Medicine, City Hospital Waid, Zürich, Switzerland
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Publication History

Publication Date:
17 March 2008 (online)

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Summary

In a prospective study we examined the efficacy of a standardized disinfection method in preventing the transmission of hepatitis B virus by the gastrointestinal fibrescope. Four HBsAg- and Dane particle-positive patients who had been endoscoped served as possible sources of hepatitis B virus infection. We cleaned the instrument with a 10 % aldehyde liquid and used it immediately thereafter in 10 HBsAg-negative patients. Eight of them were followed-up for 7 months after the endoscopic procedure. None of them showed serological evidence of an endoscopically transmitted hepatitis B virus infection. It is concluded that disinfection with an aldehyde liquid is effective in preventing the transmission of hepatitis B virus by the fibrescope.

Key words:

Endoscopy - Disinfection of fibrescope - Hepatitis B virus transmission - Hepatitis B virus infection

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