Hepatitis C Needle Sticks?

[sgtmac]

Thank you for your previous response. Can a person infect themself with Hepatitis C by using a needle or safety pin to say break open a pimple on the nose and possiblly reuse it by accident uncleaned the next day and catch Hep C or does the needle have to be infected with the HCV viris. When you say needle sticks Do you mean from intravenous? I`m not a health care worker and other this pimple bust can I think of any other way I could have Contracted Hep C. I used peroxide on the pin or needle I used and I did this procedure more than once on my self.
Could I not have had the pin or needle clean and infected my self.My doctor said he did not think so.All the things you mentioned in our last correspondense causes for hep c except for a needle stick to myself with my own blood on it I can rule out for causing this infection.

                                         Thanks
                                          Sgtmac

[Kevin Pho, MD]

The needle would have to be infected with hepatitis C for it to be transmitted to you.  Unless the needle had been exposed to the virus prior to using on yourself, the likelihood is very low.  

By "needlesticks" it would need to have an intravenous route of transmission.  

It is also unlikely that you could have infected yourself with a clean needle.  

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
Medical Weblog:
kevinmd_b