You can contract hepatitis C by blood-to-blood contact. Ways to avoid reinfection to the hepatitis C virus include avoiding sharing needles and using condoms or another barrier method during sex.
Hepatitis C is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis C virus. The virus transmits through contact with blood. You can become exposed to the virus by sharing needles when injecting drugs or having sex without a condom or other barrier method.
Today, most people contract the virus while sharing needles to inject drugs. The virus is also frequently transmitted during sex, especially among HIV-positive men who have sex with men.
You can contract the hepatitis C virus again even after you’ve received treatment for hepatitis C that cured it or your body cleared the virus on its own.
Chronic hepatitis C infection can damage the liver. Without treatment, it can eventually cause liver scarring, known as cirrhosis, liver failure, or liver cancer. Early treatment for people with an initial infection and reinfection can cure hepatitis C and help prevent these complications.
The main treatment for hepatitis C involves a newer group of medications called
- elbasvir/grazoprevir (Zepatier)
- glecaprevir/pibrentasvir (Mavyret)
- ledipasvir/sofosbuvir (Harvoni)
- sofosbuvir (Sovaldi)
- sofosbuvir/velpatasvir (Epclusa)
According to 2018 research, DAAs can cure the hepatitis C virus in more than
A cure for hepatic C means there is no trace of the virus in a blood test. Doctors call this a sustained virologic response (SVR).
Achieving SVR means that you’re cured, but it doesn’t make you immune to the virus — you can still contract the virus again if you’re re-exposed to it.
Factors that put you at risk of hepatitis C reinfection include:
- sharing needles, syringes, or other equipment used to inject drugs
- having sex without a condom or other barrier method with someone who has contracted the virus
- getting a tattoo or piercing with unsterilized instruments
- sharing a toothbrush, nail clippers, or other personal items that have blood on them from someone who has the virus
The percentage of people who contract the virus for a second time varies.
Some studies report rates as low as 1 reinfection per 100 person-years — the number of people involved in the study by the length of the study. A 2022 study noted that high risk groups for reinfection included people who inject drugs and men who have sex with other men. Among these groups, the reinfection rates were between 1% to 8% annually.
In other studies, the rate is as high as 6 reinfections per 100 person-years.
Since the introduction of DAAs, reinfection rates have increased. While DAAs cure more people from hepatitis C, they have also created a bigger group of people who can contract the virus again. However, these newer medications are more effective against hepatitis C than older drugs like ribavirin and interferon.
People who continue to inject drugs after being cured of hepatitis C are more likely to contract an infection again. Injecting drugs often and sharing equipment like needles and syringes further increases the risk.
A 2019 study found that injecting opioids like heroin together with stimulants, such as methamphetamine, increases the risk for both hepatitis C reinfection and drug overdose.
Men who have sex with men without using a condom are also at higher risk of hepatitis C reinfection. Using drugs can lead to sexual practices that can increase the odds of a hepatitis C reinfection
Other factors that increase the chance of reinfection include:
- being younger than 35 years
- having been assigned male at birth
- testing positive for HIV
Hepatitis C infection is most common in people with HIV who also inject drugs. An older 2017 study of 120 men with hepatitis C found that
The best way to prevent reinfection is to avoid contact with blood containing the virus. That means not sharing needles and syringes and not engaging in sex without a condom or other barrier method.
Injection drug use is one of the main ways hepatitis C reinfections can occur. Avoiding the use of these drugs can reduce a person’s exposure to the virus.
Opioid agonist therapy is a treatment that helps people stop taking heroin and other opioid drugs by preventing withdrawal symptoms and reducing cravings. This treatment might also lower the risk of hepatitis C reinfection.
For people who do use injected drugs, a syringe services program or needle exchange program can provide clean needles and syringes. These community-based programs also offer hepatitis C screening and refer people to treatment programs for substance use disorder.
Untreated depression and other mental health issues can sometimes lead people to engage in behaviors such as sex without protection or drug use. Speaking with a mental health professional may be helpful as they can offer healthy ways to cope with life’s stressors.
Practicing safer sex practices is another way to reduce the risk of sexually transmitted hepatitis C infection. Use a barrier method like condoms every time you have sex.
Routine hepatitis testing is recommended for people who have had a hepatitis C infection and for those who inject drugs. People who test positive and get prompt treatment can reduce their chances of developing liver disease and liver cancer.
While medications exist that can cure hepatitis C, it’s still possible to contract the virus again.
It’s essential to avoid contact with blood containing the virus to help avoid reinfection. People who inject drugs are at higher risk of exposure.
The best ways to prevent exposure to the hepatitis C virus include avoiding the sharing of needles or syringes and using condoms or another barrier method when having sex.
