HCV transmission in industrialized countries and resource-constrained areas

The main route of HCV transmission in industrialized countries is injection drug use, whereas in resource-limited countries the major routes are iatrogenic, blood transfusions and medical proceduresHCV transmission through sexual activity is rare amongst heterosexual couples, but is increasingly recognised amongst men who have sex with men, in whom traumatic sexual practices and HIV infection are associated with increased riskHCV transmission amongst people who inject drugs can be reduced by implementation of needle-exchange and opiate-substitution programmesCheap, reliable and robust nucleic acid testing assays for screening pooled blood donations are urgently required in resource-limited settings to reduce HCV transmissionTraining in hospital infection control procedures and their regulation are required to reduce iatrogenic transmission of HCV in resource-limited settingsDrug treatment might prove to be an effective method of reducing transmission in populations with a high prevalence of HCV infection