These
items must be carefully cleaned by one of the following methods if they are
shared with other users. Standard 2 minute bleaching and barber ‘cleaning
solutions” are not effective
USING
DISPOSABLE RAZORS AND NOT SHARING OTHER IMPLEMENTS IS BEST!!!!
If not
possible then:
1.
Autoclave
2.
Boiling
for 20 full minutes between uses
3.
Soaking
for 10 full minutes in a
1:10 dilution (but no less than 1:100) of bleach in water between uses.
Hepatitis C:
Risk of a Haircut
Author:
Gitlin N, Nolte FS,
Weiss M, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322
Source: Ann Intern Med
126 (5): 410-411 (1997)
To the Editor:
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has a prevalence of 1.8%
in the United States. The
mode of acquisition of HCV is unclear in nearly
40% of patients with chronic HCV infection.
Various social practices are currently
under scrutiny, including sharing razors, snorting cocaine through
the same straw another person has used, and sexual practices (1).
We questioned
whether a haircut that includes a trim of the sideburns and
back of the neck using a straight razor might lacerate the skin and
thereby spread hepatitis C.
We obtained the fluid used in five different male
hairdresser salons to "sterilize" the cutthroat blade after
its use to trim the neck hairs
and sideburns. The five fluids
were negative for HCV RNA by reverse
transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) (2).
The fluids were then
deliberately "spiked" with 0.1 ml of 1:10 diluted serum that
contained HCV. The serum
had been obtained from a patient who had chronic
HCV infection, as determined by a positive result on PCR testing for
HCV RNA.
This qualitative test was considered to be more sensitive (it detects
>100 viral equivalents/mL) than the HCV branched-DNA quantitative
assay (which detects
>200,000 viral equivalents/mL). By
use of RT-PCR, HCV RNA was
detected at 6 and 24 hours and at 7 days.
The antiseptic
fluids used to clean the razor did not destroy the viral
RNA. We wonder whether the routine male haircut may be a risk factor
for HCV infection.
Norman Gitlin, MD
Frederick S. Nolte, MD
Michael Weiss, MD
Emory University School of
Medicine Atlanta, GA 30322
References:
1.
Conry-Cantilena C, Van Raden M, Gibble J, Melpolder J, Obaid-Shakil
A, Viladomiv L, et al.
Routes of infection, viremia and liver disease in
blood donors found to have hepatitis C virus infection.
N Engl J Med. 1996;334:1691-6.
2. Nolte FS,
Thurmond C, Fried MW. Preclinical
evaluation of amplicor hepatitis
C virus test for detection of hepatitis C virus RNA.
J Clin Microbiol.
1995;33:1775-8.
The
following excerpt is from the hepcbc pamphlet on HCV and the Beauty
Industry.
The advice comes from the BC CDC.
It's all we have.
Before disinfection, preclean/wash items in fresh soap & water to remove
visible
contamination.
Use
heat to disinfect blood-contaminated items, such as an autoclave, and follow
manufacturer's recommendations. Alternatively, use a 1:10 to 1:100 dilution
of 5% household bleach and immerse items for at least 10 minutes.
Rinse
items well with water. Make up a fresh bottle of bleach solution each day,
and shield it from any light. ("Hepatitis C: Risk of a Haircut,"
by Gitlin,
Nolte, and Weiss, Emory University School of Medicine, and "Dental instrument
and device sterilization and disinfection practices," J Hosp
Infect
1996 Apr Issue: 4 Volume: 32 pp 295-304)
Have
your client bring his/her own manicure or pedicure tools.