Hepatitis C is not transmitted by breastfeeding. See the CDC web site:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/c/hepcprev.htm

I would assume the risk of transmitting Hepatitis C through contaminated
breast pumps would be pretty low.


Hospitals always have to be concerned about cross contamination.  Hospitals
harbor many virulent pathogens.  It is why hospitals have to be so vigilant
about infection control.  The studies we have on this issue of cross
contamination of breast pumps appear to be studies done within the hospital
setting.  Should we assume that outside the hospital, we need the same level
of vigilance?

Should we assume that the presence of a pathogen is evidence of disease
transmission?  Do we have evidence that the pathogens present on and in
breast pumps cause infant illnesses?  We don't have the studies.  I believe
the kind of study needed to be done on this issue must not only test for
bacteria and viruses on and in pumps, but also directly correlate the
presence of a particular pathogen to the illness in an infant.

I think it is interesting that a decade ago, health care providers told their
clients that hepatitis C was believed to be transmitted by intravenous drug
use or sexually transmitted.  I have a friend whose husband was diagnosed
with hepatitis C.  Since he was not an intravenous drug user, and she did not
have hepatitis C; my friend assumed that her husband had gotten the disease
sexually.  Her marriage and faith in her husband was shaken to the core.  Now
the current belief is that most of the transmission of hepatitis C is through
blood products.  There seems to be very little evidence of sexual
transmission.  In fact, it seems that there are quite a number of cases,
where they don't know how the person got it.  The information my friend was
given was wrong and it significantly impacted her life.

I think it is OK for lactation consultants and/or health care providers to
say that we just don't have the answer.   Valerie W. McClain, IBCLC






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