Which liver disease is most commonly associated with chronic bloodborne infection in the US?

Hepatitis C is the liver disease most commonly associated with chronic bloodborne infection in the United States. This primarily arises from its mode of transmission, which occurs predominantly through blood-to-blood contact. The risk factors include sharing needles, blood transfusions prior to the implementation of widespread screening in the early 1990s, and other activities that can involve exposure to infected blood.

Chronic infection with Hepatitis C can lead to serious liver problems, including cirrhosis and liver cancer. Unlike Hepatitis A, which is typically transmitted via the fecal-oral route and does not lead to chronic infections, or Hepatitis B, which can also cause chronic infection but is less prevalent as a bloodborne disease than Hepatitis C, Hepatitis C has a higher propensity to develop into a chronic condition. Hepatitis D is dependent on the presence of Hepatitis B for its infection and does not exist as a standalone condition.

Understanding the prevalence and transmission routes of each type of hepatitis helps clarify why Hepatitis C stands out in the context of chronic bloodborne infections in the U.S.