TRANSMISSION’S PREVENTION OF VIRAL HEPATITIS AMONG MANICURES AND PEDICURES – A REVIEW

Abstract

Viral hepatitis is responsible for high rates of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and it requires high investments in their treatments. Hepatitis B and C can often be presented asymptomatically, which results in a high number of infected individuals who are unaware of the fact they have these diseases. Considering that the transmission of these hepatitis forms can be done through the use of contaminated materials, the work materials used by manicures and pedicures can be a means of transmission for these pathogens. Thus, this study aimed to conduct a literature review in order to analyse manicures’ and pedicures’ information about the possibility of transmission of the causative pathogen from hepatitis and procedures that should be adopted by these workers in order to prevent this transmission. Researches were conducted on Journal Portal Capes and the Scielo and Lilacs databases considering publications in the period between 2003 and 2013. It can be observed in these workers practices a limited knowledge about preventive procedures. Also, the poor adherence to the use of personal protective equipments was noted, as well as, vaccination for hepatitis B. The need for education and training of qualified human resources proved itself to be clear, being indispensable for proper prevention of pathogen transmission from contaminated sharps and cutting materials.