Is there a possible transmission

Living With Hep B
1

Hi guys… I have this weird question…
Is there any possible transmission if someone comes in contact with the urine of a hep b positive individual?
@ThomasTu @Bansah1 @john.tavis

1 Like
2

While the hepatitis B virus (HBV) can be found in urine, it is considered unlikely to be a significant mode of transmission

.

Hepatitis B is primarily spread through contact with infected blood, semen, or vaginal fluids. This typically occurs through:

  • Sexual contact.
  • Sharing needles or other equipment used to inject drugs.
  • From a birthing parent to a baby during childbirth.
  • Sharing items like razors or toothbrushes that may have traces of infected blood.
  • Contact with open sores of a person infected with HBV.

While studies have detected HBV DNA in urine, suggesting it might potentially be infectious, it is generally believed that the amount of virus present in urine is insufficient to cause infection through typical exposure. Furthermore, some studies suggest that HBV DNA detected in urine may be fragmented and non-infectious, except in cases where the renal structure is compromised or there is blood contamination.

In conclusion, although HBV can be present in urine, it is not considered a primary route of transmission for hepatitis B.

1 Like
3

@Eddie has it correct.

HBV does not transmit by urine, although fragments of viral DNA could be detectable by sensitive methods such as PCR. Note that the presence of HBV DNA does not mean that infectious HBV viral particles are present. DNA is very stable and can persist, often in fragmented form, for a long time after the virus it was derived from has been destroyed.

The only exception to this rule, and it would be a very, very, very, very unusual circumstance would be if someone had high amounts of blood in their urine, and then the urine came in contact with a fresh cut on another person. That is exceptionally unlikely, especially as the urine would dilute the blood a great deal and as the salts and pH of urine could further compromise infectivity.

I list this possibility just for completeness sake. In practical terms this is a non-event. So in short, HBV does not transmit by urine.

John.

2 Likes
4

Thank you! @john.tavis @Eddie

1 Like
5

Hi @john.tavis ,

Your detailed explanations are insightful and helpful to understand tranmission through urine is almost impossible

What about chances of passing the HBV through sweat and tears.

6

Dear Sanjay1,

The answer is the same for sweat and tears as it is for urine. HBV does not transmit via those routes. I could think up extraordinarily unlikely scenarios where it might happen, but all of them would require fresh blood getting into the sweat and tears and then coming in contact with a fresh cut on a recipient. So no, that doesn’t happen.

When thinking about transmission, think about blood exposure and exposure to semen or vaginal fluids. Those are the ways that HBV transmits between adults and children after birth. At birth, transmission is efficient from an infected mother to the newborn due to the blood that is released during childbirth and transmission of the baby through the birth canal.

Getting vaccinated against HBV is your best defense against transmission. The vaccine is very safe and effective. Vaccinating newborns within 24 hours of birth efficiently interrupts transmission from an infected mom to the baby, so that is recommended. Most places give the first dose right in the birthing room. That has stopped a huge number of new HBV infections around the world and is a major public health triumph!!

John.

1 Like
7

Thanks @john.tavis for your quick response.

As household contacts like siblings are great at risk in getting HBV, what are the ways most likely horizontal transmission happen besides sharing razors, nail clippers?

1 Like
8

First off, siblings are not at high risk for HBV transmission unless they do things that lead to shared blood contact (like getting in a fight and biting each other hard enough to draw blood). Not sharing toothbrushes (that can cause gum bleeding in some cases), razors, combs (pulling hair out at the root can cause bleeding), or nail clippers is a good precaution. Being aware of the HBV status of household contacts is a good idea in case someone cuts themselves with a knife or something like that. But casual, normal daily cohabitation is not a substantial risk factor for transmission.

Again, it comes down to the same thing—transmission risks exist where there is blood, semen, or vaginal fluid contact, not from kissing, eating utensils, hugging a friend, wiping away a tear of a child, sharing clothes, etc. And I cannot emphasize it enough—vaccination is safe and effective at stopping transmission in ~95% of people.

John

3 Likes