Reuse of Biopsy Forceps may be Associated with Risk of Transmission of HCV in Egyptian Patients Undergoing Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Hepatitis viruses are not transmitted via gastrointestinal endoscopy except if there are any mistakes in sterilization and disinfection of the endoscope that disrupt the infection control measures. So we aimed to measure the risk of transmitting HCV by GI endoscopy at department of Tropical Medicine and infectious Diseases, in a major University hospital in Egypt.

METHODS

Our study was conducted on four hundred patients with exclusion of those with HCV, HBV, and/or HIV positive antibodies. An ethical committee approval and a given consent were taken prior to enrollment on the study. Our patients are grouped into the following; 100 patients undergoing upper GI endoscopy without biopsy as group I; 100 patients undergoing upper GI endoscopy with biopsy as group II; 100 patients undergoing lower GI endoscopy without biopsy as group III and 100 patients undergoing lower GI endoscopy with biopsy as group IV. HCV antibodies were done 3 months after endoscopy with exclusion of other risks of HCV infection by a detailed questionnaire.

RESULTS

Only one case was reported positive after 3 months of procedure; it was after colonoscopy with biopsy using reusable forceps.

CONCLUSIONS

Strict infection control measures of the GI endoscopes despite being effective in preventing HCV transmission, the reuse of disinfected biopsy forceps may be associated with a risk of transmission. So, we recommend using disposable forceps for every patient to omit the risk of HCV transmission during endoscopy.