Is it possible to transmit infection (including HIV) from persona to persona over mou
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Too broad a question. Yes, some infection is possible to transmit through a mouthpiece. However, HIV, Hep C, etc do not fall under that category. These are blood borne diseases. In other words, you might catch a cold, but you probably won't get HIV.
RonFrank
Contributor
If you are worried about sharing air during training, yes you could catch a cold or virus if the person you are sharing a mouthpeice with is ill.
You can NOT get blood diseases (like HIV).
Any good LDS cleans their mouthpieces and equipment between dives, but they do NOT sterilize them (that I have seen).
It will be impossible to avoid sharing air during training, so if that is something that really concerns you, find a buddy to take the class with.
Ron
You can NOT get blood diseases (like HIV).
Any good LDS cleans their mouthpieces and equipment between dives, but they do NOT sterilize them (that I have seen).
It will be impossible to avoid sharing air during training, so if that is something that really concerns you, find a buddy to take the class with.
Ron
muha:
DA, I see in your profile that you are a medical professional, so I'll defer to your training. I was told that it is possible, but HIGHLY improbable that HIV could be transmitted during mouth to mouth -- I assumed any body fluids but was told it would need to be 'gallons'.
That being said, if one were rescuing an unconscious diver from depth there is a good possibility they OxTox and convulsed, possibly biting their tongue and allowing blood into the saliva...not sure how dramatically that affects the risk.
All of that being said, I believe the original question was the use of rental equipment where presumably the gear has been somewhat rinsed and dried. I was under the impression that HIV, HEP-x were relatively wimpy outside of the body/body fluids and died rather quickly. So in a worse-case scenario of Hepatitis infected DiverA has a cut in their mouth, and then Diver-B immediately uses the gear for the next dive and Diver-B has a cut in their mouth....what are the risks there? What about buddy breathing, or so during instruction where multiple divers may be using my alternate air source??
That being said, if one were rescuing an unconscious diver from depth there is a good possibility they OxTox and convulsed, possibly biting their tongue and allowing blood into the saliva...not sure how dramatically that affects the risk.
All of that being said, I believe the original question was the use of rental equipment where presumably the gear has been somewhat rinsed and dried. I was under the impression that HIV, HEP-x were relatively wimpy outside of the body/body fluids and died rather quickly. So in a worse-case scenario of Hepatitis infected DiverA has a cut in their mouth, and then Diver-B immediately uses the gear for the next dive and Diver-B has a cut in their mouth....what are the risks there? What about buddy breathing, or so during instruction where multiple divers may be using my alternate air source??
Otter, yes, saliva is a possible medium, but it would take lots of it. The tongue biting blood transmission scenario - the blood would probably get washed off or diluted enough to not be a factor. Also, you would need a cut in your mouth for the blood to penetrate. Infected blood on my skin will not necessarily infect me. Infected blood in a cut on my skin will have a more likely chance of infecting me. I almost always have little nicks on my hands, so I always wear gloves when dealing with blood.
Also, notice that in my original post I said you "probably" won't get HIV, just for the very scenario you bring up. You never know if the person that was breathing the reg before you had a cut in the mouth or sores, etc. So, as you state, it is HIGHLY improbable, even in the tongue biting situation.
Also, notice that in my original post I said you "probably" won't get HIV, just for the very scenario you bring up. You never know if the person that was breathing the reg before you had a cut in the mouth or sores, etc. So, as you state, it is HIGHLY improbable, even in the tongue biting situation.
Lloyd
Contributor
Here is a little food for thought. You do not need a cut for transmission either way. Gingivitis will do. Hep c virus is infectious for up to 4 days outside the body.
http://www.hepcassoc.org/news/article91.html
Lloyd
http://www.hepcassoc.org/news/article91.html
Lloyd
Lloyd:
Gingivitis creates an avenue to the blood vessels. HCV needs blood to transmit.
Also, as far as 4 days outside the body, the quote is
"HCV may survive on environmental surfaces at room temperature at least 16 hours but not longer than 4 days."
It should be kept in context.
A pool, ocean, lake, etc are hardly environmental surfaces at room temperature. These were tests conducted in hospitals. A little disinfectant sprayed on the surface kills the virus. Chlorine, bromine, salt, etc will also kill the virus.
Interesting study, though. Thanks.
they actually made buddy breathing as a skill during training illegal in Australia because of fears of disease transmission. We had to sterilize regs between users and it is impossible to do that when buddy breathing, so we could do "simulated " buddy breathing (holding two second stages instead of one)
Hydrogen peroxide solution makes a ggreat sterilizing liquid and doesnt stink or taste bad.
Hydrogen peroxide solution makes a ggreat sterilizing liquid and doesnt stink or taste bad.
Lloyd
Contributor
Just make sure you leave it on long enough. Here is a study from my field.cancun mark:
Am J Ophthalmol. 2001 Feb;131(2):184-7.
Disinfection of Goldmann tonometers after contamination with hepatitis C virus.
Segal WA, Pirnazar JR, Arens M, Pepose JS.
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA
PURPOSE: To compare methods of disinfecting Goldmann tonometer tips inoculated with hepatitis C virus. METHODS: Hepatitis C virus was placed on Goldmann tonometer tips, air dried, and then disinfected by dry gauze wipes, isopropyl alcohol wipes, cold water washes, povidone iodine 10% wipes, and hydrogen peroxide or isopropyl alcohol soaks followed by a cold water wash and dry. Hydrogen peroxide and isopropyl alcohol disinfection techniques followed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for prevention of possible transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). After disinfection, samples from tonometer tips were amplified by polymerase chain reaction to quantitate the amount of hepatitis C virus RNA remaining. RESULTS: Percentage of hepatitis C virus RNA remaining after disinfection: dry gauze wipes 95.65%, isopropyl alcohol 5-second wipes 88.91%, cold water wash 4.78%, povidone iodine 10% 5-second wipes 0.72%, hydrogen peroxide soak with cold water wash 0.07%, and isopropyl alcohol soak and cold water wash 0.02%. CONCLUSIONS: After inoculation of Goldmann tonometer tips with hepatitis C virus, a 5-minute soak in 3% hydrogen peroxide or 70% isopropyl alcohol followed by washing in cold water resulted in the greatest reduction in hepatitis C virus RNA.
PMID: 11228293 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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