Which of the following is a transmission method for hepatitis B?

• A. Direct contact with blood
• B. Contaminated water
• C. Direct contact with perspiration
• D. Contaminated food

Answer: (A)

Hepatitis B primarily spreads through exposure to infected blood and certain other body fluids, so direct contact with blood is the key transmission route athletes and clinicians must guard against. The virus can be present in blood and can enter the body through percutaneous or mucosal exposure, such as through open wounds, needlestick injuries, or sharing contaminated equipment. Because of this, using gloves, proper wound cleaning and dressing, and avoiding sharing items that may have blood on them are essential precautions, and vaccination is strongly recommended to prevent infection. It’s not transmitted through contaminated water or food, and perspiration does not carry enough virus to spread infection, so those routes aren’t considered transmission methods for hepatitis B.