Health Care Exposures
Healthcare workers are at risk of contracting hepatitis C for several reasons. Healthcare workers are exposed to blood and other body fluids more often than the public. This is because they work closely with patients, often providing care for them. This puts them at risk of encountering the blood or body fluids of an infected patient. In some cases, this can happen through accidental needle sticks or cuts. Healthcare workers can also be exposed to the virus if they work in a laboratory that handles samples from infected patients.
One final factor that contributes to the risk of healthcare workers contracting hepatitis C is the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) in some settings. PPE includes items such as gloves, gowns, and masks, which help protect healthcare workers from coming into contact with contaminated materials. In some cases, there may not be enough PPE available for all healthcare workers who need it.
