Hepatitis C Causes & Risks

Causes

HCV is carried in the blood of people infected with the virus. It is most often spread through contact with infected blood, such as:

Injecting illicit drugs with shared needles
Receiving HCV-infected blood transfusions (before 1992) or blood clotting products (before 1987)
Receiving an HCV-infected organ transplant
Receiving long-term kidney dialysis treatment (machine can be tainted with HCV-infected blood)
Sharing toothbrushes, razors, nail clippers, or other personal hygiene items that have HCV-infected blood on them
Being accidentally stuck by an HCV-infected needle—a concern for healthcare workers
Frequent contact with HCV-infected people—a concern for healthcare workers
Receiving a tattoo, body piercing, or acupuncture with unsterilized or improperly sterilized equipment

Hepatitis C can also spread through:

An HCV-infected mother to her baby at the time of birth
Sexual contact with someone infected with HCV
Sharing a straw or inhalation tube when inhaling drugs with someone infected by HCV
Receiving a blood transfusion

HCV cannot spread through:

The air
Unbroken skin
Casual social contact
Breastfeeding

Risk Factors

Factors that increase your chance of this infection:

Receiving a blood transfusion before 1992
Receiving blood clotting products before 1987
Long-term kidney dialysis treatment
Tattooing
Body piercing
Injecting illicit drugs, especially with shared needles
Having sex with partners who have hepatitis C or other sexually transmitted diseases

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Copyright © 2026 EBSCO Publishing All rights reserved.