Open AccessHepatitis C transmission through tattooing: a case report
Author(s) -
Thompson Sandra C.,
Hernberger Franz,
Wale Elizabeth,
Crofts Nick
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.946
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1753-6405
pISSN - 1326-0200
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-842x.1996.tb01035.x
Subject(s) - prison , harm reduction , transmission (telecommunications) , hepatitis c virus , hepatitis c , medicine , harm , risk factor , environmental health , virology , virus , psychology , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , criminology , social psychology , telecommunications , engineering
We report the case of a prisoner for whom tattooing was the likely source of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Many of the tattoos were carried out within prison using equipment that was multiply shared with other prisoners with limited access to means of disinfection. This case supports previous reports that prison is a risk factor for HCV infection and that HCV can be transmitted through tattooing. Use of unsterilised equipment for tattooing within prison must be a high‐risk activity, given the high prevalence of HCV infection among those incarcerated. Harm reduction approaches are required to diminish risk in this environment.