Protective and other measures

The best protection from hepatitis A and B is vaccination. It is recommended for people at higher risk of infection due to sexual behaviour (e.g. frequently changing sexual partners), chronic liver conditions or chronic conditions affecting the liver, people who travel to regions with high hepatitis A prevalence, people who have contact with hepatitis A/B patients as well as drug users and prison inmates serving longer sentences.

Protection is also offered by disinfection or the use of sterile equipment or disposable material (e.g. at hospitals and medical practices, but also when tattooing and piercing), protective measures for unborn and newborn children as well as the testing of blood and blood products. Hygiene measures, safer use practices and the use of condoms or internal condoms, gloves or dental dams also reduce the risk of infection, but transmission of HBV is also possible during kissing in the event of minor bleeding in the mouth and a high viral load.

Transmission of HBV to the baby can almost always be prevented, for example by antiretroviral therapy during the pregnancy or by passive immunisation of the newborn directly after birth and subsequent active immunisation.

After a risk exposure (e.g. needlestick injury of staff members at medical practices or hospitals), “passive” immunisation is still possible within 48 hours (ideally earlier) by administering immunoglobulins (= antibodies of people who have already had hepatitis B).

According to the Infection Protection Act, hepatitis A patients must not work in community facilities, catering or food processing businesses until the condition has resolved.

There are no work restrictions for hepatitis B patients, but individual restrictions for exposure-prone surgical procedures.

There is no protective vaccination and no passive vaccination against hepatitis C.

Drug users can protect themselves from hepatitis C by only using their own sterile syringes, needles, and other equipment (spoon, filter, water). To be on the safe side, tubes (for snorting or inhaling) and pipes should not be shared either.

The risk of sexual transmission is reduced by using condoms or internal condoms during anal and vaginal intercourse and gloves during fisting (new condoms and new gloves for each person). Sex toys and other instruments that may come into contact with blood should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, and dildos should be used with a new condom for each person. Lubricant containers should not be shared, and each person should use their own lubricant.

There are no work restrictions for hepatitis C patients, but individual restrictions for exposure-prone surgical procedures.