I think some of the previous replies in this thread are nonsense. This is potentially an important issue for anyone who has a strong interest in their health (as many here at longecity do.) This is no joke, the professionals in the field agree that there may be real risk here that has been overlooked:
Hepatitis transmission risk needs to be studied in nail salons, barbershops, analysis suggests
"The risk of hepatitis transmission through non-single use instruments -- such as nail files, nail brushes, finger bowls, foot basins, buffers, razors, clippers, and scissors -- during nail salon and barbershop visits cannot be excluded, according to the results of a new report unveiled at the American College of Gastroenterology's (ACG) 76th Annual Scientific meeting in Washington, DC..."
"...The true magnitude of this risk has yet to be defined and clearly needs further study..."
"...In the meantime, Dr. Johnson urged nail salon and barbershop customers to be aware of the potential risks for hepatitis transmission, and to take precautions including asking questions to determine whether or not the nail salon or barbershop is properly cleaning and disinfecting tools and equipment. He also suggests customers bring their own equipment like clippers, razors and nail files (both men and women)..."
"...No one should accept on blind trust that a business is taking the necessary steps to prevent transmission of bloodborne infections such as hepatitis," said Dr. Johnson..." http://www.scienceda...11031114947.htm
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I am not a medical professional, and some of what I post here may be incorrect, but I have keenly read the medical literature relating to pathogen transmission, disinfection and sterlization.
Personally, I would be very careful when buying, using or being treated with any instruments or techniques that puncture (or have a risk of puncturing) the skin. The disease risk from this seems like it is probably generally small, but I think it is wise to take precautions.
This is particularly the case for items that originate from developing countries (e.g. China, both because of widespread transmissable disease amongst the population like Hepatitis B and widespread poor manufacturing standards) and items that are not considered truly "medical grade" in nature and thus are far less likely to be subjected to the stringent hygienic manufacturing processes of true medical grade instruments.
If I were buying any such instrument (e.g. dermaroller, tweezers) that could puncture the skin, I would at least immerse it in boiling water for some time(which can inactivate almost all viruses and essentially all non-spore-forming bacteria) before first use. Ideally though, my reading suggests that 45 minutes at ~170C in a conventional oven is considered capable of complete sterilzation and therefore equivalent to an autoclave cycle.
Keep in mind too that disinfection and sterilization using amateur techniques may be prone to failures - e.g. voids and crevices not coming into contact with the disinfectant. Of course, many cheap (e.g. plastic) non medical grade instruments will not survive these disinfection/sterilization techniques.
I would also recommend against using any services that share (potentially skin puncturing) instruments between clients, unless they have serious sterilization procedures in place (i.e. autoclaving) which probably almost none do. I would thus advise against manicurists, barbers (hair clippers, razors), body hair removal by waxing or electrolysis etc.
These services exist in a grey area - they are carrying out procedures that can puncture the skin and draw blood, just like a dentist or doctor, but they often have very limited safety protocols (and compliance to safety procedures may be poor or non-existent.) Personally, I don't think it's worth the risk.
Part of my consideration in all of this too, is that common pathogens that are currently considered to be "low risk" by the mainstream, such as cytomegalovirus (CMV) and herpes simplex, may play a significant role in worsening and/or initiating the declines seen in old age (e.g wiping out the immune system, initiating Alzheimers.) There is also some evidence that just the total "pathogen load/burden" (ie total number of infectious pathogens in the body) in elderly humans may play a part in the delines of old age and perhaps particularly in raising the general pro-inflammatory tone of the body.
Here are some resources that may be of use:
Pathogen Safety Data Sheets and Risk Assessment
http://www.phac-aspc...s/index-eng.php
(Excellent large list of pathogen, risks of transmission and how to disinfect against them. The list and information on effective disinfection techniques is not complete, but it's a good start.)
Here is part of the entry for HIV (note that it can be active for more than a week outside the body even when dried):
SUSCEPTIBILITY TO DISINFECTANTS: HIV is susceptible to fresh 2% glutaraldehyde, 2% Jodopax (detergent and iodine), hypochlorite, iodine, phenolics, and to a lesser extent 70% ethanol, NaOH and isopropanol.
PHYSICAL INACTIVATION: HIV is inactivated by ultraviolet (UV) light; however, the level of the inactivation is heavily influenced by the proximity of the UV source to the sample and the concentration of protein in the sample environment. HIV is easily inactivated in a cell free medium; however, in cell associated samples and blood samples complete inactivation requires much longer exposures to the UV source\. HIV is also inactivated at pH higher or lower than the optimal level of 7.1. A temperature of 60°C for 30 minutes will likely inactivate HIV; however, higher temperatures and incubations may be required depending on the initial titre of the virus.
SURVIVAL OUTSIDE HOST: HIV can remain viable in blood in syringes at room temperature for 42 days, and in blood and cerebrospinal fluid from autopsies for up to 11 days. Although drying in the environment is known to cause a rapid reduction in HIV concentration, under experimental conditions, Cell-free HIV dried onto a glass coverslip in 10% serum can survive for longer than 7 days, depending on the initial titre.
www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/lab-bio/res/psds-ftss/hiv-vih-eng.php
A primer on sterilization:
http://en.wikipedia...._(microbiology)
Edited by Brett Black, 31 March 2015 - 03:53 AM.