What is it about?
HIV and hepatitis C virus share parenteral (including percutaneous) routes of transmission. Decades ago, these routes were considered important; however, especially for HIV, sexual routes and vertical transmission have been subsequently considered of much higher importance, and parenteral transmission has been neglected. Francesca Cainelli and I have examined numerous recent studies showing its huge importance.
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Photo by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases on Unsplash
Why is it important?
It is essential to reduce parenteral transmission of HIV and hepatitis C virus. Sterility of needles and other equipment used in medical settings and in rituals must be constantly controlled. Availability of auto-disabled syringes and needles, routine compliance with infection control precautions and efficient sterilization of medical instruments, appropriate community information and enforcement of regulatory practices are extremely important. All blood donations must be adequately screened. Unnecessary medical injections, unnecessary transfusions, reuse of needles and syringes must be banned. Policies must enforce the use of sterilized equipment for scarifications and tattooing. Surveillance systems for hospital infections are extremely important.
Perspectives
The importance of parenteral transmission of HIV and hepatitis C virus must be recognised the world over, and measures must be put in place to prevent and considerably reduce it.
Professor Sandro Vento
Manash Kozybayev North Kazakhstan University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Hepatitis C virus and HIV transmission: parenteral (including percutaneous) routes are still relevant and must receive due attention, Frontiers in Public Health, May 2026, Frontiers,
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1790641.
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