Patient's question:
Today I had blood drawn at the hospital. After the blood draw, the nurse used a cotton swab that she had touched with her hands to apply medicine to me (she stuck the cotton swab onto the adhesive tape and then applied the tape with the cotton swab onto my wound). I'm afraid of getting hepatitis C, and I want to know if it's possible to contract hepatitis C from this.Doctor's answer:
Hepatitis C is generally spread through blood. In most cases, nurses' hands are not carrying the virus. Imagine, as a professional, a nurse would touch blood contaminated with the virus. There is no need to worry, as this situation would never spread hepatitis C. Cotton swabs are sterile, and it is impossible for a nurse's hands to carry the virus. For severe hepatitis C patients, it is recommended to seek medical attention immediately. Follow the doctor's advice for prompt treatment and avoid changing medications arbitrarily, as this may have the opposite effect on the treatment.