Nail scissors and fingernails as reservoirs of hepatitis B virus DNA: Role of nail scissors in household transmission of hepatitis B virus

Publication date: July 2018
Source:American Journal of Infection Control, Volume 46, Issue 7
Author(s): Mehmet Koroglu, Tayfur Demiray, Ahmet Ozbek, Ertugrul Guclu, Oguz Karabay, Mustafa Altindis, Riza Durmaz
BackgroundNo study in the current literature has scientifically clarified the transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) via personal hygiene tools. We determined risk of household transmission of HBV via nail scissors. Moreover, we assessed whether nails from HBV-infected people contained HBV, and evaluated correlations of HBV DNA levels of serum, nail specimens, and nail scissors.MethodsSeventy patients testing positive for the surface antigen of the hepatitis B virus (63 positive for HBV DNA) treated for HBV infection and 27 healthy individuals were included. Real-time polymerase chain reaction method was used to detect HBV DNA levels in sera, nail, and nail scissors.ResultsHBV DNA was detected on 27% of nail scissors and in 50% of nail specimens from 63 serum HBV DNA-positive patients. Serum HBV DNA level >10⁵ IU/mL was associated with 71.8% probability of nail scissors being HBV DNA-positive (P < .05). Serum HBV DNA level >10⁷ IU/mL was associated with 71.5% probability of fingernails being HBV DNA-positive (P > .05). Shared-use of nail scissors was correlated with surface antigen of the hepatitis B virus positivity and total hepatitis B core antibody/immunoglobulin G positivity. A high HBV DNA level was detected in nail scissors and low level HBV DNA in the nails of persons with high serum HBV DNA levels.ConclusionsNail scissors, shared-use of nail scissors, and duration of shared use play important roles in household transmission of HBV. Level of education within society in this regard should be increased via mass media.



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