Nuôi tiếp xúc với virus viêm gan C là phương tiện hiệu quả nhất của truyền dẫn. Đa số bệnh nhân này bị nhiễm với HCV ở châu Âu và Hoa Kỳ mua lại căn bệnh qua việc sử dụng thuốc tiêm tĩnh mạch hoặc truyền máu, whichis | 14 Hepatitis C Guide Transmission Parenteral exposure to the hepatitis C virus is the most efficient means of transmission. The majority of patients infected with HCV in Europe and the United States acquired the disease through intravenous drug use or blood transfusion which has become rare since routine testing of the blood supply for HCV began. The following possible routes of infection have been identified in blood donors in descending order of transmission risk Injection drug use Blood transfusion Sex with an intravenous drug user Having been in j ail more than three days Religious scarification Having been struck or cut with a bloody object Pierced ears or body parts Immunoglobulin injection Very often in patients with newly diagnosed HCV infection no clear risk factor can be identified. Factors that may increase the risk of HCV infection include greater numbers of sex partners history of sexually transmitted diseases and failure to use a condom. Whether underlying HIV infection increases the risk of heterosexual HCV transmission to an uninfected partner is unclear. The seroprevalence of HCV in MSM men who have sex with men ranges from about 4 to 8 which is higher than the HCV prevalence reported for general European populations. The risk of perinatal transmission of HCV in HCV RNA positive mothers is estimated to be 5 or less Ohto 1994 . Caesarean This is trial version 1. Epidemiology Transmission and Natural History 15 section has not been shown to reduce transmission. There is no evidence that breastfeeding is a risk factor. Hemodialysis risk factors include blood transfusions the duration of hemodialysis the prevalence of HCV infection in the dialysis unit and the type of dialysis. The risk is higher with in-hospital hemodialysis vs peritoneal dialysis. Contaminated medical equipment traditional medicine rites tattooing and body piercing are considered rare transmission routes. There is some risk of HCV transmission for health care workers
