Body piercing as a risk factor for viral hepatitis: An integrative research review

The relationship of viral hepatitis and body piercing has been investigated in 12 research studies published between 1974 and 1997. Because there are often a large number of unknowns regarding the cause of viral hepatitis, mo st of the studies were conducted to identify multiple risk factors for hepa titis. Eight of the 12 studies identified percutaneous exposure, including body piercing and ear piercing, as a risk factor for viral hepatitis. Six s tudies found that hepatitis seropositivity was significantly associated wit h ear piercing. Conclusions indicate that evidence is sufficient to institu te public health education along with regulation of the body-piercing indus try. Recent research has found a significant increase in legislative effort s to regulate body piercing. Little research has focused directly on body p iercing as a specific risk factor for viral hepatitis. Further research in this area is necessary to increase the understanding of hepatitis transmiss ion by body piercing.