Abstract
The possibility of the infection of viral hepatitis type B through endoscopec examination of the digestive tract was investigated, in the first place, by comparing three groups (A: endoscopically unexamined, B: endoscopically examined and C: bioptically examined) of patients about the percentage of antigen positive cases and that of antibody positive cases. As to the percentage of antigen positive cases, there was no significant difference among the groups while the percentage of antibody positive cases was 18.3, 25.4 and 28.0% in the group A. B. and C. rest, ectively, being significantly higher in the latter two groups, and the difference was especially remarkable in inpatients. In addition, saliva and gastric juice were clearly positive for HBsAg, which can be a medium of infection, in 7 cases among the 13 cases examined. In a washing test of endoscopes contaminated with HBsAg, washing with soapy water was effective for removing the antigenicity of HBsAg, and the use of a well-closed automatic washing apparatus was regarded as effective for the purpose.
