Can hepatitis C be prevented? (emedicinehealth)
Hepatitis C can be prevented by avoiding close contact with a person who has the hepatitis C virus, and by avoiding situations which can increase your risk of getting hepatitis C. These situations include
- using injection drug,
- having multiple sexual partners, and
- getting tattoos and body piercings.
In the healthcare setting, it means following all procedures for infection control to minimize risks due to needle sticks, hemodialysis, and contaminated equipment. There is no protective vaccination for hepatitis C at this time, although research continues in this area.