Prevention Measures to Avoid Transmission of HCV
ÎHCV-infected persons should be counseled to avoid sharing toothbrushes and dental or shaving equipment, and be cautioned to cover any bleeding wound in order to prevent contact of their blood with others.
ÎPersons should be counseled to stop using illicit drugs. Those who continue to inject drugs should be counseled to avoid reusing or sharing syringes, needles, water, cotton or other paraphernalia; to clean the injection site with a new alcohol swab; and to dispose of syringes and needles after one use in a safe, puncture-proof container.
ÎHCV-infected persons should be advised not to donate blood, body organs, other tissue or semen.
ÎHCV-infected persons should be counseled that the risk of sexual transmission is low, and that the infection itself is not a reason to change sexual practices (ie, those in long-term relationships need not start using barrier precautions, and others should always practice "safer" sex).
Table 4. Grading System for Recommendations Category/Grade
Definition
Level of Evidence A
B C
Classification Class I
Class II
Class IIa Class IIb Class III
Data derived from multiple randomized clinical trials or meta-analyses.
Data derived from a single randomized trial, or nonrandomized studies.
Only consensus opinion of experts, case studies, or standard-of-care.
Conditions for which there is evidence and/or general agreement that a given diagnostic evaluation procedure or treatment is beneficial, useful, and effective.
Conditions for which there is conflicting evidence and/or a divergence of opinion about the usefulness/efficacy of a diagnostic evaluation, procedure or treatment.
Weight of evidence/opinion is in favor of usefulness/efficacy. Usefulness/efficacy is less well established by evidence/opinion.
Conditions for which there is evidence and/or general agreement that a diagnostic evaluation, procedure/treatment is not useful/effective and in some cases may be harmful.
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