Survey of hepatitis B and C infection control: procedures at manicure and pedicure facilities in São Paulo, Brazil
Braz. j. infect. dis
;
14(5): 502-507, Sept.-Oct. 2010. ilus
Article
in English
| LILACS, SES-SP
| ID: lil-570566
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 percent used disposable gloves, none washed their hands, 93 percent did not previously cleaned their working material and only 7 percent 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 percent of hepatitis B and 2 percent of hepatitis C.
Full text:
Available
Index:
LILACS (Americas)
Main subject:
Beauty Culture
/
Disinfection
/
Hepatitis C
/
Hepatitis B
/
Occupational Diseases
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
/
Observational study
/
Qualitative research
/
Risk factors
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
South America
/
Brazil
Language:
English
Journal:
Braz. j. infect. dis
Year:
2010
Type:
Article
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