title: Hepatitis C virus and dental health workers: an update.
abstract: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a worldwide health problem, affecting over 130 million individuals. The virus is transmitted parenterally, making health care professionals a risk group for infection. For this reason it is important that dental health-care workers recognise the symptoms of the infection, which can be present in the oral cavities of hepatitis C-infected individuals. Moreover, dental health-care workers should know how to manage hepatitis C-infected individuals during dental treatment and the measures to prevent nosocomial spread of HCV. Thus, the purpose of this study was to perform a review of HCV epidemiology, natural history, transmission, diagnosis, treatment and prevention focusing on oral manifestations in and dental management strategies for HCV-infected individuals.
authors.forename: Cléa Adas Saliba
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Garbin
authors.forename: Neila Paula
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: de Souza
authors.forename: Romes Rufino
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: de Vasconcelos
authors.forename: Artênio José Isper
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Garbin
authors.forename: Lívia Melo
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Villar
mesh_terms: D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control; D003727:Dental Auxiliaries; D017742:Dental Care for Chronically Ill; D003815:Dentists; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional / Q000517:prevention & control; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000821:virology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*