Protecting yourself and others from hepatitis C

It is important not to share syringes, needles and other equipment with other people. One person’s blood can mix with another person’s blood if they use the same utensils. The virus can also stick to filters, tourniquets, water containers and spoons. And it can be passed on through tubes used to snort drugs.

Many towns and cities have drug consumption rooms or other drug support facilities. People can swap used needles for fresh ones and inject drugs under medical supervision there.

It is very rare for the virus to be passed on during sex, but not impossible. The risk is increased during

• unprotected sex with changing partners,
• practices where small wounds are likely to develop (for example anal sex or BDSM), or
• if someone also has an HIV infection at the same time.

Condoms can protect against infection via small wounds in the mouth, on the penis, in the anus or in the vagina. Femidoms also offer protection during vaginal sex. It is important to use a fresh condom or femidom for each sexual partner. Lube and sex toys shouldn’t be shared, either.

Normal protection and hygiene regulations are enough in medical and caring professions. Medical and care staff can become infected with hepatitis C if they cut themselves on things like used cannulas or surgical equipment. But the risk of infection is very low.

The viruses can be passed on when getting a tattoo or piercing if hygiene regulations are not followed. That is why it is important to only get tattoos or piercings in studios that stick to hygiene standards, such as only using sterile equipment.

Infected pregnant women can pass the virus on to their baby. But that only happens in about 5 out of 100 pregnant women with hepatitis C, usually through small wounds during birth. That risk is a little higher if the mother also has HIV. There are so far hardly any ways of reducing the risk because hepatitis medications are not approved for use during pregnancy. And it is not thought that a Cesarean section (C-section) reduces the risk of infection during birth.

Breastfeeding is usually possible after birth. It is very unlikely for the virus to be transmitted through breast milk. Nipple shields can offer protection from bleeding sores on the nipples. It can be a good idea for affected mothers to also get breastfeeding advice.

Hepatitis C is more prevalent in some countries than in others. But you can protect yourself well from infection with the protective measures described above. Hygiene standards in piercing and tattoo studios, and in medical facilities in poorer countries, are sometimes lower than in Germany. The risk of infection is then higher.

If you think you might have a hepatitis C infection, you can have a test after returning home. An infection can then be treated early on.

If you have a hepatitis C infection, you shouldn't share any objects that could have blood on them with other people, such as razorblades, nail scissors, or toothbrushes. If you injure yourself and are bleeding, you should either dress the wound yourself and then wash your hands with soap and water, or have somebody else put on disposable gloves to help you. Bloody bandages, cloths, etc. should be disposed of so that nobody comes into contact with them.