Hepatitis C Prevention

Since more than 90% of Hepatitis C infections are acquired through current or past injecting drug misuse, its transmission can be minimised by:

• Not injecting drugs;
• Choosing alternatives to injecting drugs such as smoking;
• Making sure that you do not share equipment (needles or syringes) or paraphernalia (such as spoons, filters, water, etc) if you are injecting drugs;
• Using clean sterile equipment for each injecting episode.
  

Clean sterile equipment is available from Injecting Equipment Providers (IEPs), also known as needle exchanges, across Grampian. 

Although reducing injecting drug use or safer drug injecting practices are important ways of reducing all bloodborne viruses (Hepatitis C, Hepatitis B and HIV) transmission, other preventative measures include:

• Using condoms during sexual intercourse, especially if you have more than one sexual partner or change your sexual partner;
• Avoiding skin piercing procedures (e.g. tattooing) with unsterilised equipment;
• Covering cuts or wounds, after washing, with a water proof covering (e.g. plaster);
• Cleaning up spilled blood immediately, wearing rubber gloves. Use a weak bleach solution for hard surfaces (follow instructions for dilution). On carpets and soft furnishings, use hand hot or warm soapy water to clean the area and dry as well as possible;
• Not sharing toothbrushes or razors;
• Informing your healthcare practitioner (doctor, nurse, midwife, dentist) of your infection.