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Hepatitis C

Publication Date: February 1, 2017

Last Updated: March 14, 2022

Recommendations

Prevention

Counseling of infected persons on avoiding transmission of HCV

The infected person should cover any bleeding wound or cuts and apply disinfectants immediately in order to keep the blood away from others.

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An infected person should not donate blood or organs, although organs from HCV-positive patients may be used in those who are already HCV-positive.

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Those who inject drugs should be counseled regarding the risk of transmission of HCV and advised to inject safely if they intend to continue.

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Vomit and other bodily secretions from an HCV-infected patient should be disposed of with disinfectant—e.g., bleaching powder and glutaraldehyde solution.

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The risk of sexual transmission of HCV is low. Spouses are not recommended to take barrier precautions as a risk reduction strategy. However, HCV infection in non-IDU men who have sex with men (MSM) has increasingly been reported in the literature, especially in HIV-positive patients.

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Transmission of HCV is low through breast milk, so breast-feeding should not be stopped.

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Household contacts and physical contact are not recognized risk factors for HCV transmission, so an HCV-infected person should not be barred from any activities of normal life.

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Prevention in the community and health-care settings

All blood donors must be screened for hepatitis C antibodies and/or HCV RNA.

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In health-care settings, adherence to universal precautions for infection control is essential. This should include the use of disposable or adequately sterilized materials for invasive procedures, and adequate cleansing and sterilization of instruments.

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It is important to educate tattooists, barbers, foot/hand care workers, and practitioners of traditional or alternative therapies about ways of minimizing blood contamination. This involves sterilization techniques for procedures that involve skin penetration or breaks to mucosal surfaces.

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As transmission of HCV via injecting drug use is an increasing trend, it is important to implement an education campaign about the harm of drug use, especially among school-age children. Harm reduction programs such as needle/syringe programs should also be implemented.

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Those who have received surgical or dental treatment can be at risk of acquiring HCV infection and should be offered testing, especially in health-care systems in which transmission associated with surgical and dental treatment has been a major risk.

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Individuals with a history of blood transfusion have a higher risk of HCV infection and should be offered testing.

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Chronic hepatitis C patients should be vaccinated against hepatitis B after screening.

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Use of injections is only preferable in approved health-care settings, and injections should be discouraged as much as possible, especially in settings in which medical supervision is not available. When mandatory, injections must be carried out in accordance with WHO recommendations on safe injecting practice.

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An appropriate protocol for needlestick injury should be drawn up and followed in all hospitals (public and private), as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

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All skin lesions on the hands of health-care workers should be covered with waterproof dressing, and if possible double gloving with a blood indicator in the glove should be used.

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Health-care workers should be vaccinated for HBV.

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Overview

Title

Hepatitis C

Authoring Organization