To compare clinical outcomes of single-use endoscopes with those of reusable endoscopes to better define their role within urology.

A systematic search of electronic databases was performed. All studies comparing the clinical outcomes of participants undergoing urological procedures with single-use endoscopes to those of participants treated with reusable endoscopes were included. Results are reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 statement.

Twenty-one studies in 3943 participants were identified. Six different single-use flexible ureteroscopes and two different single-use flexible cystoscopes were assessed. There were no differences in mean postoperative infection rates (4.0% vs 4.4%; P = 0.87) or overall complication rates (11.5% vs 11.9%; P = 0.88) between single-use and reusable endoscopes. For patients undergoing flexible ureteroscopy there were no differences in operating time (mean difference -0.05 min; P = 0.96), length of hospital stay (LOS; mean difference 0.06 days; P = 0.18) or stone-free rate (SFR; 74% vs 74.3%; P = 0.54) between the single-use and reusable flexible ureteroscope groups.

This study is the largest to compare the clinical outcomes of single-use endoscopes to those of reusable endoscopes within urology, and demonstrated no difference in LOS, complication rate or SFR, with a shorter operating time associated with single-use flexible cystoscope use. It also highlights that the cost efficiency and environmental impact of single-use endoscopes is largely dependent on the caseload and reprocessing facilities available within a given institution. Urologists can therefore feel confident that whether they choose to 'use' or to 'reuse' based on the financial and environmental implications, they can do so without negatively impacting patient outcomes.

Hepatitis C (HCV) is the disease that has affected around 200 million people globally. HCV is a life threatening human pathogen, not only because of its high prevalence and worldwide burden but also because of the potentially serious complications of persistent HCV infection. Chronicity of the disease leads to cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma and end-stage liver disease. HCV positive hepatocytes vary between less than 5% and up to 100%, indicating the high rate of replication of viral RNA. HCV has a very high mutational rate that enables it to escape the immune system. Viral diversity has two levels; the genotypes and Quasiaspecies. Major HCV genotypes constitute genotype 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 while more than 50 subtypes are known. All HCV genotypes have their particular patterns of geographical distribution and a slight drift in viral population has been observed in some parts of the globe.

During a gastrointestinal endoscopy, the device crosses natural cavities with always commensal bacterial flora, sometimes pathogenic flora. In all cases, the device is contaminated after the exam. The lack of effective disinfection exposes to the risks of transmission of germs. The infectious risk depends on the patient, the endoscopic procedure as well as on the technique of disinfection. The bacteraemia is usually not clinically significant. The endoscopic transmission of the germs from a patient to another one is very rare and is mostly due to a defect of disinfection. The procedures for disinfecting equipment should be known, established and controlled.

Viral hepatitis was first identified as an occupational hazard for health care workers more than 60 years ago. For the past few decades, hepatitis B has been one of the most significant occupational infectious risks for health care providers. With the increasing prevalence of hepatitis C infections around the world, occupational transmission of this flavivirus from infected patients to their providers has also become a significant concern. Several factors influence the risk for occupational blood-borne hepatitis infection among health care providers, among them: the prevalence of infection among the population served, the infection status of the patients to whom workers are exposed (ie, the source patient's circulating viral burden), the types and frequencies of parenteral and mucosal exposures to blood and blood-containing body fluids, and whether the patient or provider has been immunized with the hepatitis B vaccine. This article reviews patient-to-provider, patient-to-patient, and provider-to-patient transmission of hepatitis B and C in the health care setting. Current prevention strategies, precautions, and guidelines are discussed.

The risk of patient-to-patient transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) during endoscopy remains controversial. Using molecular approaches, we examined the possibility of patient-to-patient transmission of HCV in three patients who developed acute hepatitis C 1-6 months after examination by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (UGIE) in a hospital endoscopy unit in Japan.

For the source of HCV infection, we used frozen sera obtained from potential candidates who underwent UGIE earlier than three index patients on the same days in the same unit. HCV genotype was determined by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with genotype-specific primers. The 1087-nucleotide (nt) sequence of the NS5B region of the HCV genome was compared between index patients and their HCV-viremic candidates.

The three index patients were exclusively infected with HCV of genotype 1b. Among a total of 60 candidate patients who underwent UGIE earlier than the index patients, 14 were positive for anti-HCV, of whom 12 had detectable HCV-RNA (1b, n = 9; 2a, n = 1; 2b, n = 2) on sera collected during each UGIE. Shared identity within the 1087-nt NS5B sequence was less than 95.0% between index patients and HCV/1b-infected candidates (n = 3, 1 and 5, respectively). None of the remaining 46 candidates who were negative for anti-HCV at UGIE examination tested positive for HCV-RNA, nor seroconverted to anti-HCV on their sera, which most likely excludes the possibility of HCV viremia despite the anti-HCV-negative serology at UGIE examination.

The present study suggests that patient-to-patient transmission of HCV during UGIE is infrequent.

The risk of blood-borne virus transmission with an inadequately decontaminated endoscope during gastrointestinal endoscopy remains unclear, although it is likely to be low. A systematic review of the literature was undertaken to determine previous episodes of blood-borne virus transmission in these circumstances. In total, 31 articles were included in this review. No articles relating to possible transmission of human immunodeficiency virus were identified. The articles included were generally case series or case reports and were written prior to the comprehensive endoscope decontamination guidelines in use today. The results suggest that hepatitis B and hepatitis C transmission are low during endoscopy with an inadequately decontaminated endoscope.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a significant contemporary health problem in the United States and elsewhere. Because it is primarily transmitted via blood, hepatitis C infection presents risks for both nosocomial transmission to patients and occupational spread to health care workers. Recent insights into the pathogenesis, immunopathogenesis, natural history, and treatment of infection caused by this unique flavivirus provide a rationale for the use of new strategies for managing occupational hepatitis C infections when they occur. This article reviews this developing information. Recently published data demonstrate success rates in the treatment of "acute hepatitis C syndrome" that approach 100\%, and although these studies are not directly applicable to all occupational infections, they may provide important clues to optimal management strategies. In addition, the article delineates approaches to the prevention of occupational exposures and also addresses the difficult issue of managing HCV-infected health care providers. The article summarizes currently available data about the nosocomial epidemiology of HCV infection and the magnitude of risk and discusses several alternatives for managing exposure and infection. No evidence supports the use of immediate postexposure prophylaxis with immunoglobulin, immunomodulators, or antiviral agents. Based on the very limited data available, the watchful waiting and preemptive therapy strategies described in detail in this article represent reasonable interim approaches to the complex problem of managing occupational HCV infections, at least until more definitive data are obtained.

To identify the role of dental surgical procedures in contributing to the transmission of hepatitis C.

Prospective observational pilot study.

Shaikh Zayed Federal Postgraduate Medical Institute Lahore, Pakistan.

Exposure to dental procedures, injections, tattooing, surgical intervention, blood transfusions, family history of hepatitis, diabetes mellitus and contact with jaundiced patients was evaluated in 78 consecutive adult patients of both sexes suffering from chronic hepatitis C.

Distribution of risk factors for acquiring hepatitis C with emphasis on role of dentistry as a possible route of transmission.

Dental procedures were the major source of exposure (39.7%) followed by injections (16.6%), surgical procedures (16.6%), diabetes (12.8%), family history of hepatitis (9%), blood transfusions (7%), tattooing (5.1%) and history of contact with a jaundiced patient (2.6%). There was a statistically significant difference in distribution of risk factors, with dental procedures being the commonest factor (p < 0.001).

The high prevalence of dental procedures in patients with chronic hepatitis C stresses the importance of ineffective infection control methods practiced by dental surgeons as a risk factor for acquiring hepatitis C and which were probably the source of infection. Large epidemiological studies are needed to elucidate the role of dentistry in transmitting hepatitis C.