Hepatitis C and Health Care Providers

What is hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C is a blood-borne virus (spread by blood) that causes liver damage.

How could I get this?

Anyone who has ever had any contact with potentially infected blood. According to recent statistics, the risk of contracting hepatitis C from needle stick injury is low.

• health care and emergency response workers who have had blood contact and/or needle stick injuries
• anyone who has ever received, prior to 1990, any blood and/or blood products, immunoglobulin or surgery
• anyone who has ever used a needle for injecting drugs or steroids, even once, at any time in their life
• anyone who has ever shared any equipment for snorting drugs such as straws, rolled dollar bills, etc.
• sexual partners of anyone infected with hepatitis C
• spouses and children of people infected with hepatitis C
• people who have tattoos, body piercing, etc.

How do I find out if I have hepatitis C?

A simple blood test is available through your doctor or clinic. If you test positive, you may be referred to a specialist for further testing and assessment. Follow-up counselling is available through your local health department of hepatitis C associations.

What can hepatitis C do to me?

Few people with hepatitis C will have some or all of the following symptoms:

• fatigue
• jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyeballs)
• abdominal pain and swelling
• nausea, vomiting and digestive problems
• night sweats and/or recurring unexplained fevers
• recurring infections and problems with the immune system

Some people will "clear" the virus with no ill effects. But the majority will remain chronically infected for life. Often there are no symptoms until very late in the course of the disease. It is a slow and silent virus that may take 20 or 30 years to cause liver damage. Hepatitis C is a major health concern because it can cause long-term liver damage and can be fatal in some cases by causing cirrhosis and liver cancer.

How is hepatitis C treated?

There is no vaccine or cure for hepatitis C. Antiviral treatments are available but can only be administered by medical professionals with specific training in hepatitis C care and management. Ensure a doctor is regularly monitoring you and providing you with health care and access to specialists. Pharmaceutical research is ongoing. Learn more about the medical research through various websites.

How can I protect myself and other people?

Hepatitis C is a very strong and hardy (virulent) virus which can survive for extended periods of time outside of the body even in microscopic amounts of blood. Habits and practices that involve ANY contact with ANY amount of blood are potential risks for transmission. Even though an infected person may look and feel healthy, they can still transmit the virus to others.

• develop and implement infection control protocols for working safely with blood borne pathogens and needles
• develop and implement occupational health & safety protocols for dealing with staff accidental blood exposure/needle stick injury
• consider immunization against hepatitis B & hepatitis A
• use strict universal precautions
• use sterilization procedures where appropriate
• appropriately dispose of blood contaminated articles
• never touch or handle blood without wearing gloves
• wash your hands often
• clean blood spills using bleach
• practice good basic hygiene. Do not share toothbrushes, razors or nail cutters
• never share needles or other equipment for injecting drugs or steroids
• never share straws for snorting drugs
• ensure that tattoo and body piercing establishments practice safe methods to avoid transmission of blood from one client to another (including re-use of ink)
• practice safer sex; always use a condom during sexual intercourse

How can I help my patients?

Counselling patients with hepatitis C is often the most difficult aspect of patient care. Despite this, important, useful, and relevant information can be given to most patients. Often due to patient anxiety, it may be necessary to counsel your patient over several short visits. Having established a diagnosis, the first point to make is to reassure the patient that they are not alone. Important patient counselling topics are:

Useful Websites

Health Canada
Canada Communicable Disease: Report Supplement vol. 23s3 May 1997 "Preventing the Transmission of Bloodborne Pathogens in Health Care and Public Service Settings."
Canada Communicable Disease: Report Supplement vol. 24s4 July 1998 "Proceedings of the Consensus Conference on Infected Health Care Workers: Risk for Transmission of Bloodborne Pathogens."
Infection Control Guidelines
The Hepatitis Information Network = HepNet

Call any of the following for more information:

• AIDS -Sexual Health Info Line 613- 563-2437
• Canadian Liver Foundation 1-800-563-5483
• The Hepatitis C Society of Canada 1-800-652-4372
• The Hepatitis C Society - Ottawa 613- 233-9703

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