In a prospective study we examined the efficacy of a standardized disinfection method
in preventing the transmission of hepatitis B virus by the gastrointestinal fibrescope.
Four HBsAg- and Dane particle-positive patients who had been endoscoped served as possible
sources of hepatitis B virus infection. We cleaned the instrument with a 10 % aldehyde
liquid and used it immediately thereafter in 10 HBsAg-negative patients. Eight of them were followed-up for 7 months after the endoscopic
procedure. None of them showed serological evidence of an endoscopically transmitted
hepatitis B virus infection. It is concluded that disinfection with an aldehyde liquid
is effective in preventing the transmission of hepatitis B virus by the fibrescope.
Endoscopy - Disinfection of fibrescope - Hepatitis B virus transmission - Hepatitis B
virus infection
