Risk of Hepatitis C Virus transmission Following Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

Hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) is a main health problem in our country. It is thought that the transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) through the endoscopic procedures is a rare event. The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk of conventional disinfection in the transmission of HCV. A prospective study, comprising 456 consecutive upper gastrointestinal endoscopies was carried out in our endoscopy centers by using conventional disinfection (exposure of the endoscope to 2% glutaraldehyde for 4 minutes),Without altering the routine procedures. Anti-HCV antibodies were tested for all patients and a questionnaire was fulfilled by the patients to obtain information regarding the risk factors for HCV infection. Six months and one year later anti-HCV antibodies were repeated and positive results were confirmed by the PCR method.Five hundred healthy blood donors were used for the control group. Five patients (1.09%) were anti-HCV-antibody positive. Anti-HCV-antibody-positive patients confirmed in three patients by PCR method. Anti-HCV antibodies were found in 6 healthy blood donors (1.2%) of controls.Transfusion, non-intravenous (i.v.) drug abuse, dental procedures, were found to be independent risk factors of HCV-positive the patients and controls groupsNo significant differences were observed between the patients and controls groups regarding the frequency of anti-HCV antibodies (P = 0.74). HCV does not seem to transmit through the endoscopic procedures. Conventional disinfection of the endoscope and accessories is sufficient for prevention of HCV transmission.