How is Hepatitis C primarily transmitted?

Hepatitis C is primarily transmitted through parenteral routes, which refer to methods of transmission that bypass the gastrointestinal tract. The most common means of parenteral transmission is through exposure to infected blood. This can occur through shared needles or other equipment used for injecting drugs, as well as through transfusions of contaminated blood products prior to the implementation of blood screening measures.

In addition to drug use, other parenteral methods that can lead to the transmission of Hepatitis C include needlestick injuries in healthcare settings and sharing personal items that may have blood on them, such as razors or toothbrushes.

While there are instances of sexual and perinatal transmission, these routes are significantly less common. Sexual transmission is considered a lower risk unless there are factors such as concurrent sexually transmitted infections or high-risk sexual behaviors. Perinatal transmission can occur from an infected mother to her child during childbirth, but this is not the predominant method of transmission compared to parenteral exposure. Breastfeeding has not been shown to be a significant route of transmission either.

Therefore, the mode of transmission that accounts for the highest risk and prevalence of Hepatitis C infections is indeed parenteral, making it the correct answer.