Transmission of hepatitis C virus by gastrointestinal endoscopy has been suggested especially therapeutic procedures. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of contamination of the endoscopes by hepatitis C virus and to assess the efficacy of a semi-automatic disinfection procedure.
Methods: In 19 patients with chronic replicative hepatitis C, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with different invasive procedures was performed. Cleaning and disinfection were carried out according to the recommendation of the belgian "Conseil Supérieur de l'Hygiène": cleaning with detergent solution, rinsing, disinfection with a disinfectant solution for 10 minutes and again rinsing. Before the procedure (T0), a blood sample was collected to detect the presence of hepatitis C virus RNA. Immediately after the endoscopic procedure, the operating channel of the endoscope was flushed with water and was sterilely collected (T1); after cleaning (T2) and after disinfection (T3, T3EC), the same procedure was repeated. The collected samples were analysed by PCR in order to detect hepatitis C virus RNA.
Results: All the samples were positive at T0. Virus C RNA was found in 10 out the 19 patients at T1 (53%). The results were negative in all the samples both after cleaning (T2) and disinfection (T3-T3 EC).
Conclusions: Our study confirmed the presence of hepatitis C virus in the operating channel after invasive upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. The contamination rate of the endoscope is high. Our cleaning and disinfection procedure seems to be effective in regard of hepatitis C virus RNA clearance.