In order to transmit the hepatitis C virus, blood infected with hepatitis A must enter the bloodstream of an uninfected person.
Take, for example, a healthcare worker who experiences an accidental needle stick with someone who is currently infected with the hepatitis C virus. The estimated risk for infection after a needlestick injury or cut exposure to HCV-infected blood is approximately 1.8%.
Household transmission is extremely rare. While a small risk exists when sharing personal items like razors or fingernail clippers the risk is very small.
And again the virus needs access to your blood stream so not a superficial scratch.
Transmission / Exposure
How is hepatitis C spread?
The hepatitis C virus is usually spread when someone comes into contact with blood from an infected person. This can happen through:
►Sharing drug-injection equipment.
Today, most people become infected with hepatitis C by sharing needles, syringes, or any other equipment used to prepare and inject drugs.
►Birth.
Approximately 6% of infants born to infected mothers will get hepatitis C.
►Health care exposures.
Although uncommon, people can become infected when health-care professionals do not follow the proper steps needed to prevent the spread of bloodborne infections.
►Sex with an infected person.
While uncommon, hepatitis C can spread during sex, though it has been reported more often among men who have sex with men.
►Unregulated tattoos or body piercings.
Hepatitis C can spread when getting tattoos or body piercings in unlicensed facilities, informal settings, or with
non-sterile instruments.
►Sharing personal items.
People can get infected from sharing glucose monitors, razors, nail clippers, toothbrushes, and other items that may have come into contact with infected blood, even in amounts too small to see.
►Blood transfusions and organ transplants.
Before widespread screening of the blood supply in 1992, hepatitis C was also spread through blood transfusions and organ transplants. Now, the risk of transmission to recipients of blood or blood products is extremely low.
Hepatitis C is not spread by sharing eating utensils, breastfeeding, hugging, kissing, holding hands, coughing, or sneezing. It is also not spread through food or water.