Survey of hepatitis B and C infection control: procedures at manicure and pedicure facilities in São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract

Bleeding due to the habit of removing the cuticles of the finger and toes nails, without appropriate sterilization of instruments can be an important factor of contamination by hepatitis B and C viruses. The objectives of this study were to verify the use of standards on biosafety in the routine work of manicurists and/or pedicurists located in São Paulo, Brazil; know the level of information they have about ways of transmission and prevention of hepatitis B and C; evaluate the degree of risk perception for accidental exposure to infectious agents; and to estimate the prevalence of serological markers of hepatitis B and C among them. This was descriptive, cross-sectional study that included a random sample of 100 manicurists and/or pedicurists working in beauty salons. We administered a questionnaire to obtain personal information about the characteristics of the participants, collected blood for hepatitis B and C serology and assessed the working environment. Adherence to the professional standards on biosafety has been inadequate, and we noted that only 5% used disposable gloves, none washed their hands, 93% did not previously cleaned their working material and only 7% used disposable materials. A low level of knowledge about the routes of transmission, prevention, standards of biosafety, and risk perception of the infectious agents in their professional activity was observed. One out of ten interviewed manicurist and/or pedicurist had serological markers of hepatitis B or C, with 8% of hepatitis B and 2% of hepatitis C.

Process of instrument sterilization in shops with manicure and pedicure services

“…Furthermore, the risk of cross contamination should be considered due to the fact that employees use the instruments on themselves. (14) Commercial establishments that offer services of manicure and pedicure to the public should follow the current health law to ensure the safety of clients and the quality of services. The steps for sterilization of the mentioned instruments are washing, drying and sterilization.…”

“…(16) Establishments that used the hot air oven did not follow the recommendations on the time and temperature required for sterilization, a result mentioned in other studies too. (14,17) The sterilization of materials by high pressure saturated steam is the one that offers greater safety and economy. The commercial establishments using autoclave were few and charged double the amount for the rendered services.…”

Apresentação

“…A hepatite B é uma doença infecciosa sistêmica, causada por um vírus que possui o potencial para causar lesão aos hepatócitos (células do fígado), levando à inflamação e necrose das células hepáticas (Han, 2004) (Oliveira & Focaccia, 2010).…”

“…A estimativa atual é que existam aproximadamente dois milhões de portadores crônicos de hepatite viral B e entre 1.4 a 1.7 milhões de portadores da hepatite viral C em território nacional (Oliveira & Focaccia, 2010). A grande maioria dos indivíduos infectados pelas hepatites virais crônicas desconhece o diagnóstico e constitui elo fundamental na cadeia de transmissão dessas infecções.…”

Aksaray il merkezinde kuaför çalışanlarının hepatit konusundaki bilgi düzeyi ve davranışları

“…Brezilya'da manikür pedikür çalışanlarının %10'unda hepatit B veya C serolojisinin pozitif olduğu belirlenmiştir (%8 hepatit B ve %2 hepatit C) (10). Kuaför, berber ve güzellik salonlarında çalışanlar kişisel hijyenlerine, çalışma aletlerinin temizlenmesi, dekontaminasyonu, dezenfeksiyonu ve sterilizasyonuna, enfekte atıkların doğru şekilde uzaklaştırılıp çalışma ortamının uygun temizliğine gereken önemi vermedikleri takdirde hem kendilerine hem de müşterilerine hastalık bulaştırmaları engellenemez bir durumdur (11).…”