Detection of HCV-RNA in cerumen of chronically HCV-infected patients.
OBJECTIVE
Viral hepatitis C is a worldwide public health problem. Hepatitis C virus is mainly transmitted by parenteral or percutaneous route. Nonparenteral transmission, such as through sexual activity, household contact, and vertical or perinatal exposure to body fluids or secretions, can occur, which has been studied before. Cerumen, however, has not been investigated for its ability to transmit hepatitis C virus. The aim of this study is to evaluate the importance of cerumen in transmission of hepatitis C virus infection.


METHODS
This study was performed on 35 patients with confirmed chronic hepatitis C virus infection.


METHODS
Thirty-five cerumen specimens collected from the patients with hepatitis C virus RNA in their sera were prospectively analyzed for the presence of hepatitis C virus RNA by polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
None of the 35 cerumen specimens were positive for hepatitis C virus RNA.


CONCLUSIONS
This study showed that cerumen has no risk for transmission of hepatitis C virus infection, even in patients with high hepatitis C virus RNA serum levels; however, standard infection control precautions should be applied carefully in all examinations and surgical operations of the ears.
Bayindir
Yasar
Y
Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Inonu University, Medical Faculty, Malatya, Turkey. yasarb@inonu.edu.tr
Kalcioglu
M Tayyar
MT
Durmaz
Riza
R
Ozturan
Orhan
O
D001826:Body Fluids / Q000821:virology; D002571:Cerumen / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*
D012367:RNA, Viral