Communicable Disease and Public Health

258 VOL 2 NO 4 DECEMBER 1999 Introduction Guidance on the risks and management of occupational exposure to hepatitis C was last issued in 1993 by the PHLS Hepatitis Subcommittee1. Since then, knowledge has increased about the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in the United Kingdom (UK), the risks of occupational transmission, and the benefits of treatment. Guidance on the management of potential exposures to HCV was issued recently in the United States (US)2 and Canada3 and recommendations in these documents differ from those in the previous PHLS guidance1. In addition, the UK Health Departments have issued recommendations on the management of significant exposures with regard to the potential risks of HIV, hepatitis B virus, and HCV infection 4. These developments provided an opportunity for the PHLS Advisory Committee on Blood Borne Virus Infections to reconsider and revise the recommendations of the PHLS group. This guidance is intended to supplement the detailed guidance on the management of blood exposure incidents produced by the UK Health Departments4.