Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the most common chronic bloodborne
infection in the United States; approximately 3.2 million persons are
chronically infected. Although HCV is not efficiently transmitted sexually,
persons at risk for infection through injection drug use might seek
care in STD treatment facilities, HIV counseling and testing facilities,
correctional facilities, drug treatment facilities, and other public
health settings where STD and HIV prevention and control services are
available. Read More
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the most common chronic bloodborne
infection in the United States; approximately 3.2 million persons are
chronically infected. Although HCV is not efficiently transmitted sexually,
persons at risk for infection through injection drug use might seek
care in STD treatment facilities, HIV counseling and testing facilities,
correctional facilities, drug treatment facilities, and other public
health settings where STD and HIV prevention and control services are
available.
Sixty to 70% of persons newly infected with HCV typically are usually
asymptomatic or have a mild clinical illness. HCV RNA can be detected
in blood within 1�weeks after exposure. The average time from exposure
to antibody to HCV (anti-HCV) seroconversion is 8�weeks, and anti-HCV
can be detected in >97% of persons by 6 months after exposure. Chronic
HCV infection develops in 70%�% of HCV-infected persons; 60%�% of
chronically infected persons have evidence of active liver disease.
The majority of infected persons might not be aware of their infection
because they are not clinically ill. However, infected persons serve
as a source of transmission to others and are at risk for chronic liver
disease or other HCV-related chronic diseases decades after infection.
HCV is most efficiently transmitted through large or repeated percutaneous
exposure to infected blood (e.g., through transfusion of blood from
unscreened donors or through use of injecting drugs). Although much
less frequent, occupational, perinatal, and sexual exposures also can
result in transmission of HCV.
The role of sexual activity in the transmission of HCV has been controversial.
Case-control studies have reported an association between acquiring
HCV infection and exposure to a sex contact with HCV infection or exposure
to multiple sex partners. Surveillance data also indicate that 15%�%
of persons reported with acute HCV infection have a history of sexual
exposure in the absence of other risk factors. Case reports of acute
HCV infection among HIV-positive MSM who deny injecting-drug use have
indicated that this occurrence is frequently associated with other STDs
(e.g., syphilis). In contrast, a low prevalence (1.5% on average) of
HCV infection has been demonstrated in studies of long-term spouses
of patients with chronic HCV infection who had no other risk factors
for infection. Multiple published studies have demonstrated that the
prevalence of HCV infection among MSM who have not reported a history
of injecting-drug use is no higher than that of heterosexuals. Because
sexual transmission of other bloodborne viruses, such as HIV, is more
efficient among homosexual men than in heterosexual men and women, the
reason that HCV infection rates are not substantially higher among MSM
is unclear. Overall, these findings indicate that sexual transmission
of HCV is possible but inefficient.
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