SHARED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

By Angela Babin, M.S.

(reprinted from Art Hazards News, vol 15, No 5, 1992)



   Recently, I received an inquiry about shared musical

instruments from a California college.  The music program offered

a Renaissance music class, in which rare antique instruments were

shared.  One student was subsequently found out to be HIV

positive, and there was panic and confusion about the hazards of

sharing instruments.  This inquiry prompted research on the

hazards of shared musical instruments and infectious disease.  



Infectious Disease Risks

  In discussion with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), it

became apparent that there really is no risk of transmission of

HIV (the virus that causes AIDS), or Hepatitis B (HBV).  The

reasons for these are that these diseases are passed via a blood-

to -blood, sexual fluid or mucous membrane contact.  There has

been no case of saliva transmission of HIV.  There has been one

case of transmission of HBV through oral contact, but in that

case, a deep human bite was involved.  

  In the case of active Herpes, where skin to skin

transmission is possible, the CDC Bureau of Herpes said that the

possibility was extremely unlikely.  It seems that there needs to

be direct skin-to-skin contact for the virus to transmit. 

   In a dialogue with the CDC's Bureau of Tuberculosis,

microbiologist Martin Faverro stated that while theoretically

this bacterial disease could be transmitted via inhalation of

sputum that was previously coughed up into an instrument, this

situation would be highly unlikely.  The Bureau had in fact

investigated similar situations, such as shared Communion cups

and also found no evidence of transmission of the tuberculosis

bacteria.  Specifically, if viable organisms are blown/coughed

into a brass or wind instrument, they would either pass all the

way through the instrument - or stay on the inside surface.  The

most danger could be transmission of colds or influenza to the

musicians sitting right in front of the bells of the brass or

horn instruments.  



Hygiene for Musical Instruments

   While the possibilities of transmission of the above

bacteria and viruses is not a real consideration, it is apparent

that there should be a protocol with regard to shared musical

instruments.  Sharing of instruments is routine in elementary

and secondary schools, where students practice on borrowed

instruments for part of the year.  As I expected, every

infectious disease expert revealed certain  some basic

considerations and recommendations for standard operating

procedures for music class.  These include:



1. All musicians or students should have their own instrument if

possible.

2. All musicians or students should have their own mouthpiece if

possible. 

3. Individual reeds should be kept by all students for reed

instruments.

4. After each semester use, when instruments are returned to the

music program, these should be taken apart and cleaned.  This can

be done with a variety of products.  Take care to not damage the

finish or wood of delicate instruments.  

   One school district uses a product made by Person-Hickrill

Laboratories, (distributed by Grover/Trophy Music Company at Tel:

(216) 391-1188), called Sterisol Germicide for Wind Instruments. 

It has been shown effective against many common colds, typhoid,

some streptococci organisms, etc.  Dr. Faverro reviewed the

Material Safety Data Sheet on the product and said that a

thorough cleaning with soap and water, alcohol, or a 1 to 10

dilution of chlorine bleach solution on sturdy instruments would

be equivalently effective, and maybe more cost-effective.

5. If instruments must be shared in class, such as the original

Renaissance Music class, alcohol wipes, or soap and water

solution should be available for use between different people.  

6. Teach musicians and students how to clean their own

instruments and how to empty and scrub clogged valves when

needed.  Instruments that have not been cleaned properly can be

unhygienic, smell or taste bad, and not sound as beautiful as

they could!