Achievement Of Expected Outcomes
PHACs activities have contributed to the creation and uptake of STBBI-related knowledge products. PHAC has developed and shared a variety of products, such as surveillance information, peer-reviewed journal articles, and guidance on STI.
While there has been considerable work done to generate, share and support the application of knowledge, there are opportunities to further the application of STBBI knowledge products, such as guidelines, through enhanced outreach efforts. While PHAC knowledge products are well known and used by professionals in the field of sexual health, awareness of these products is low among general and family practitioners.
PHACs activities have contributed to increasing the capacity and skills of audiences and populations to prevent and control viral hepatitis and STI. For example, NML has provided reliable testing services to enhance the capacity of regional, provincial, and territorial public health services through genotyping or serological testing for diseases such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, HPV, and herpes. Frontline health care workers are using information produced through PHAC-funded activities in their work. More precisely, they used information to educate or inform clients, colleagues, and members of the public, and to improve their own work practices.
Can You Pass Hepatitis C To A Sex Partner
Sex and Sexuality
Yes, but it is not likely. Compared to hepatitis B virus and the human immunodeficiency virus , it is less likely that you will spread the hepatitis C virus to your sex partner.
If you have one long-term sex partner, and one of you has hepatitis C and one of you does not, you do not need to change your sex habits at all. But, if either you or your partner is worried about the small chance of spreading the hepatitis C virus, you can use latex condoms. This will make it almost impossible to spread the virus. Long-term partners of people with hepatitis C should get tested for the virus. If the test is negative, you will probably not need to repeat it.
If you have more than one sex partner, you are more likely to spread the virus. In this case, reduce the number of sex partners you have, practice safer sex, and always use latex condoms.
There have been outbreaks of sexually transmitted HCV infection among men who have HIV and who have sex with men. It is recommended that men who have sex with men use condoms to reduce the risk of sexually transmitted HCV and other sexually transmitted infections.
Could I Give It To Other People
Yes. As long as you carry the virus, you can infect others. You may pass it on to your sex partner, to those who live in close contact with you, and to those who share your needles for injecting drugs. All of these contacts should be examined by a doctor. If they are not yet infected, they should be vaccinated.
Pregnant women who are carriers may pass hepatitis B on to their babies around the time of birth. Most infected infants become carriers. A pregnant woman should have a test for hepatitis B at her first visit to a doctor. If she is a carrier, the infant can be vaccinated at birth to protect against infection.
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How Are Hepatitis B And Hepatitis C Spread From Person To Person
Like HIV, the hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses spread:
- From mother to child: Pregnant women can pass these infections to their infants. HIV-HCV coinfection increases the risk of passing on hepatitis C to the baby.
- Sexually: Both viruses can also be transmitted sexually, but HBV is much more likely than HCV to be transmitted sexually. Sexual transmission of HCV is most likely to happen among gay and bisexual men who are living with HIV.
General Tips For Prevention
Refrain from engaging in IV drug use and be cautious with all procedures that involve needles.
For example, you shouldnt share needles used for tattooing, piercing, or acupuncture. The equipment should always be carefully sterilized for safety. If youre undergoing any of these procedures in another country, always make sure the equipment is sterilized.
Sterile equipment should also be used in a medical or dental setting.
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What Happens If A Baby Is Hcv Positive
If a baby tests positive for HCV, they may require monitoring from a doctor with experience treating hepatitis C in children. This may mean a consultation with a pediatric hepatologist.
The pediatric hepatologist will monitor the babys growth and assess their viral load with a blood test. This determines how much of the virus is in the body.
A doctor will also determine the genotype of HCV. There are six of these genotypes, and doctors sometimes use different drugs to treat different types.
Before and during the treatment, doctors will periodically check the childs liver function. They may also recommend vaccinations for hepatitis A and B, as having multiple types of hepatitis increases the risk of liver damage. Children with HCV should also receive annual flu vaccinations.
do not recommend these drugs during pregnancy, as it is unclear whether they can affect the fetus.
Doctors are also unsure of the effects of DAAs on babies during breastfeeding. For this reason, adults begin or resume hepatitis C treatment after they have finished breastfeeding.
Children with HCV typically do not begin treatment until they reach 3 years of age. However, by the age of 2, there is a 40% chance that the immune system has cleared the virus on its own.
If this does not happen, or if the child has signs of aggressive liver disease that could progress, doctors may begin DAA treatment as soon as possible. The specific drugs involved can depend on the genotype of HCV.
How Is Hepatitis B Treated
Treatment for hepatitis B depends on how long you have had the virus.
There is no specific treatment for acute hepatitis B, and most people recover within one to two months. Usually, you can manage symptoms at home with plenty of rest and painkillers if necessary. Most people make a full recovery from acute hepatitis B.
If you develop chronic hepatitis B, you will be given treatment to help some of the symptoms. This will also reduce the risk of liver damage and liver cancer. Treatment keeps the virus under control but cannot cure chronic hepatitis B. Some people will need lifelong treatment.
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Immunostaining For Hbv Surface Antigen And Hbv Core Antigen
Immunostaining for HBsAg and HBcAg was performed on frozen sections, using the Ventana i VIEW DAB detection kit and the Dako Envision kit , respectively. Primary monoclonal antibodies to HBsAg , at a 1:100 dilution, and polyclonal antibodies to HBcAg , at a 1:500 dilution, were used. Liver tissue was taken from mice after they were euthanized, and the tissue was stored at 80°C.
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Sexual Transmission Of Hepatitis C: A Rare Event Among Heterosexual Couples
Transmission of hepatitis C virus is primarily attributed to percutaneous exposure to infected blood. Methods to prevent percutaneous transmission are well defined and clear counselling messages exist to reduce person-to-person transmission of virus . While studies suggest that sexual transmission of HCV occurs infrequently, few studies thoroughly investigated sexual risk factors and potential confounding transmission modes within the household . These ambiguities hampered development of clear counselling messages for sexual practices among HCV-infected persons.
While the HCV Partners Study provides much-needed reassurance for the millions living with HCV and in long-term partnerships, these results do not apply to all patient populations. Particularly, HIV-infected men who have sex with men represent a different demographic and recent publications emphasise the role of sex in HCV transmission . This represents a different clinical scenario with other factors that are likely to be important.
Household exposures from sharing blood-contaminated objects provide a plausible alternative route for HCV transmission among partners that may be erroneously ascribed to sex contact . The HCV Partners Study carefully evaluated household practices to account for potential non-sexual HCV transmission. Although partners frequently shared personal grooming items, we found no association between sharing these items and HCV concordance among couples.
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Hepatitis B And Safe Sex
âAll three forms of viral hepatitis may be transmitted sexually, although hepatitis B is most commonly transmitted sexually,â explains Michael B. Fallon, MD, professor of medicine at The University of Texas Medical School in Houston. Once you have been diagnosed with hepatitis B, you should tell your partner so he or she can be tested. If your partner does not have hepatitis B, and is not already immune to hepatitis B, a vaccine is recommended.
âSexual partners of individuals with hepatitis B should consider vaccination to prevent acquiring infections,â says Fallon. Hepatitis B immune globulin which works like an antibody, quickly fighting infection can also be given to a partner who has been exposed to your body fluids within two weeks after exposure to prevent infection. Even after your partner has been vaccinated, you should always use a condom.
Whos At Risk For Hepatitis C
You might be more likely to get it if you:
- Inject or have injected street drugs
- Were born between 1945 and 1965
- Got clotting factor concentrates made before 1987
- Received a blood transfusion or solid organ transplants before July 1992
- Got blood or organs from a donor who tested positive for hepatitis C
- Are on dialysis
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How Do You Test For Hepatitis B
A simple blood test carried out by a healthcare professional will show whether you have the virus. You may also be given extra tests to see if your liver is damaged.
If youve got hepatitis B you should be tested for other STIs. Its important that you tell your recent sexual partner/s so they can also get tested and treated. Many people who have hepatitis B dont notice anything wrong, and by telling them you can help to stop the virus being passed on. This can also stop you from getting the infection again.
Building Healthy Sexual Relationships
Rule number one for a healthy sexual relationship: Be open and honest. I believe in transparency, says Talal. This conversation can be difficult, but its important to have. Part of discussing your status is talking about what exposure you may have had to hepatitis C, even in the distant past.
Its a good opportunity for you to share both your sexual history and your past experiences with other ways the virus can be transmitted, such as injecting drugs or being exposed to items that may have infected blood on them, including needles, razors, and toothbrushes.
Dr. Sherman explains that even if you consistently use condoms during sex, other activities, such as sharing needles or straws to inject or snort drugs, increase your risk of spreading hepatitis C. People do not want to hear about this, he says. Its difficult to get the word out about risk.
If you and your partner find that hepatitis C is disrupting your relationship or sex life, you might also want to consider working with a marriage and family therapist or sex therapist.
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Hbv Dna Extraction And Real
HBV DNA in serum was measured by COBAS TaqMan HBV DNA test, version 2.0 . HBV DNA was extracted from 200 µL of urine, using the QIAamp DNA Blood Mini Kit . HBV DNA was extracted from saliva, tear, and sweat specimens that were spotted on FTA cards, using QIAamp DNA Mini kit . Three circles were punched from the FTA card by use of a single-hole paper puncher and were used for HBV DNA extraction. The extracted DNA was dissolved in 100 µL of elution buffer.
Quantification of HBV DNA in urine, saliva, tear, and sweat samples was performed using an in-house TaqMan real-time assay. The real-time PCR was performed using a genotype-independent method described previously . PCR was performed in an MX3000P , and the results were analyzed with MxPro software . The lower limit of detection was > 100 copies/mL. All assays were performed in duplicate with negative control samples. This assay was standardized using HBV DNA samples of known concentrations measured by the COBAS TaqMan HBV DNA test and recombinant plasmid controls. In this study, the standard of qualification is based on the result of COBAS TaqMan HBV DNA test. Therefore, the conversion factor between HBV copies/mL and HBV IU/mL is considered to be 5.82 copies/IU. Genotyping of HBV was determined by the PCR-Invader assay .
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How Is Hiv Not Spread
HIV is not spread by:
- Mosquitoes, ticks, or other insects
- Saliva, tears, sweat, feces, or urine that is not mixed with the blood of a person with HIV
- Shaking hands hugging sharing toilets sharing dishes, silverware, or drinking glasses or engaging in closed-mouth or social kissing with a person with HIV
- Drinking fountains
- Other sexual activities that dont involve the exchange of body fluids .
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How Do You Get It
Hepatitis A
You can get hepatitis A through contaminated food or water and by not washing hands after the toilet or before touching food.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is spread:
- from mother to baby
- sharing items that may pierce the skin or have blood on them
- blood transfusion .
Hepatitis C
You can get hepatitis C through contact with infected blood, sharing needles, syringes and any other equipment and, possibly, through sexual contact. You can also get it with a blood transfusion in countries that do not pre-test blood for transfusion.
Ways You Wont Spread Hepatitis C
There are some ways in which you wont spread HCV, though. Go ahead and let your significant other have a bite of your sandwich or dessert. According to the CDC, hepatitis C isnt spread by sharing silverware or drinking glasses, or through water or foods. Showing affection by holding hands, hugging, or kissing is also safe, Lee says. And although germs from sneezing or coughing might cause you to get a cold, they wont give you hepatitis C.
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How Hcv Is Spread
The hepatitis C virus is transmitted primarily through blood to blood contact, meaning that a person can become infected with the virus should the blood of a person who carries the virus be introduced into another person’s bloodstream.
Therefore, as with hepatitis B, blood transfusions , tattooing and body piercing, occupational exposure, medical procedures, and intravenous drug use can all lead to possible exposure to the virus. Unlike hepatitis B, however, sexual contact and childbirth have both been shown to be an inefficient route of exposure to HCV.
The hepatitis G virus is thought to be transmitted in a similar way to HCV.
More Ways To Reduce The Risk Of Infection
If you arent sure whether you have hepatitis C, get tested. Testing is especially important if you have sex with more than one person or if you have other risk factors for hepatitis C, including being born being 1945 and 1965, having had a blood transfusion prior to 1992, and injecting drugs .
Talk to your partner about getting tested as well, for hepatitis C and other STDs, so you know the risks before having sex. People who are at risk for hepatitis C are also at risk for HIV and other STDs, emphasizes Talal.
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Chronic Hepatitis B Infection
If you develop chronic hepatitis B, youll be given treatment to reduce the risk of permanent liver damage and liver cancer. Treatment does not cure chronic hepatitis B and most people who start treatment need to continue for life.
Without treatment, chronic hepatitis B can cause scarring of the liver , which can cause the liver to stop working properly.
A small number of people with cirrhosis develop liver cancer, and these complications can lead to death. Other than a liver transplant, there is no cure for cirrhosis. However, treatments can help relieve some of the symptoms.
How Is Hepatitis A Treated
Unlike other types of viral hepatitis, hepatitis A rarely causes long-term liver damage and doesnt become a long-term illness. There isnt a specific treatment for hepatitis A, and most people will recover fully within one to two months. Usually, symptoms are managed at home with plenty of rest and painkillers and/or medication to help with itchiness, nausea or vomiting may be prescribed.
Occasionally hepatitis A can last longer and, in rare cases, it can be life-threatening if it causes the liver to stop working properly .
Whether youve got symptoms or not, dont prepare food for others or have sex until a healthcare professional tells you that youre no longer infectious.
Once youve recovered from hepatitis A youre immune this means you cant get it again. But you can get other types of hepatitis.
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Sharing Personal Care Items
The chances of spreading hepatitis C within your household are low but possible. To be safe, donât share personal care items that could be contaminated with blood, Lee says. These include razors, toothbrushes, cuticle scissors, and nail clippers.
In addition, be mindful when you go to nail salons or barbershops, where the same tools are used on all customers. A study published in the November-December 2014 issue of the Journal of Public Health Management & Practicefound that while regulations to safeguard the public exist in most states, itâs unknown how many businesses comply with them. Ask about tool-sterilization procedures before you frequent these establishments. You can also bring your own nail care supplies.