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Hepatitis B, using sterile injecting equipment
Hepatitis B transmission and risk
The hepatitis B virus can only live in blood and sexual fluids. Hepatitis B can be a risk if there is blood-to-blood contact with someone with hepatitis B. Unprotected sex can also be a transmission risk for hepatitis B. We have more information on our Transmission and risk page. Using unsterile injecting equipment is a risk for hepatitis B. This means sharing or reusing other people’s needles and syringes (fits) or other injecting equipment can put you at risk for hepatitis B
Hepatitis B and injecting equipment
If you inject drugs, consider the following tips to reduce possible risks for hepatitis B (called harm reduction).
- Consider having extra equipment available.
- Use a new sterile fit for every hit.
- Don’t share any equipment (e.g. spoons, swabs, tourniquet) when preparing and injecting drugs.
- Wipe down all surfaces where the hit is being prepared.
- Wash hands before and after injecting, preferably using soapy water or alcohol swabs.
- Avoid all contact with anyone else’s blood, including traces not able to be seen – this may mean giving advice but not physically helping someone else to inject.
- Dispose of used fits in sharps bins or fitpack.
Where can you get sterile equipment?
Needle and Syringe Programs (NSPs) can help you with health advice and sterile (new) equipment.
You can use this map to find your nearest NSW Ministry of Health NSP (Needle and Syringe Program). Click here for the NSW NSP map.
Contact the Hepatitis Infoline for more information
Have more questions about finding and using sterile injecting equipment? Contact the free Hepatitis Infoline.
