hep c from bath water

[Scaredella]

hello,
I work in a care home and one of the clients recently took a bath while on her period. I am not sure if she is hep c positive, but without thinking I stuck my arm in the water and drained the tub. Does this put me at risk of hep c transmission? The tub was already cold by the time that I drained it.

[lporterrn]

If the person didn't have hep C, then of course, there is no risk. If you were actively bleeding, and the client had hep C, there might be a risk, but only if you had an entry route for the virus. This would be a very, very remote risk.

[Scaredella]

I had no active bleeding that I am aware of, but did have a couple of older scabbed areas. Would the scabbed area be a site of entry?

[lporterrn]

very unlikely - needs to be an open wound

[zain]

I would advise you to get yourself tested. Although, it can't be transmitted unless you have an open wound but testing would not be a bad idea.

[Scaredella]

I assume it would be less than the 1.8% risk with a needlestick is this right?

[lporterrn]

Sort of - with needle sticks, the risk is very low if the needle just goes into the skin, and increases with the size of the needle.
Here is what I think: Fear of getting hep C (or HIV or hep B) sometimes doesn't respond to reason, and although I wouldn't get tested based on what you said, I don't think anything I say will be reassuring. Perhaps the only way to put this to rest is to get tested. Then you can put this concern aside. In the meantime, try not to lose any sleep over it. Life is too short.

[Scaredella]

Thanks, if you say it is very unlikely to transmit this way I will leave it at that. Think I am just a bit more anxious about exposures right now because I am 3 months pregnant. I also did read online that non-intact skin is an unlikely route.