[ellie123]

I stuck myself with a dirty needle. Hospital determined pt was HIV - but hep C +. I freaking out. I'm ready to leave bedisde nursing. Any advice, other then don't stick yourself again?!?!

[DusktilDawn]

Ellie, your not the only nurse to go through this. I've had a needle stick injury. In my situation, I didn't even know which patient the dirty needle came from.

I followed policy and procedure in regards to testing after this incident, although I couldn't help but worry until the tests came back negative.

The only advice I can give you is to follow through with testing, and take it one day at a time.

[ellie123]

thanks for your input

[Sharon]

Sorry to hear about your accident. If the worst case does happen and you convert there are some great dual modality therapies (Interferon Alfa 2B and Ribavirin)
out there. Unlike most of the population you will be able to start so soon you have a very high rate of converting back to negative after a single course of treatment.

You should consult with an infectious disease specialist who specifically works with post exposure patients. I see a significance difference in how they handle patients from the average ID physician.

Keep an eye on http://Clinicaltrials.gov to watch for post-exposure prophylaxis studies. Three years ago when I consulted in infectious injectable biopharmaceutical industry many patients with chronic Hepatitis B requested studies on Interferon Alfa 2B and Ribovairin. All these patients did was call the drug companies and ask for the studies. Therefore you should also call the manufactures of Interferon Alfa 2B and ask if they have something in the works not yet listed on the web.

[Sharon]

Ellie,

Sorry to hear about your accident. If the worst case does happen and you convert there are some great dual modality therapies (Interferon Alfa 2B and Ribavirin) out there. Unlike most of the population you will be able to start so soon you have a very high rate of converting back to negative after a single course of treatment.

You should consult with an infectious disease specialist who specifically works with post exposure patients. I see a significance difference in how they handle patients from the average ID physician.

Keep an eye on http://Clinicaltrials.gov to watch for post-exposure prophylaxis studies. Three years ago when I consulted in infectious injectable biopharmaceutical industry many patients with chronic Hepatitis B requested studies on Interferon Alfa 2B and Ribovairin. All these patients did was call the drug companies and ask for the studies. Therefore you should also call the manufactures of Interferon Alfa 2B and ask if they have something in the works not yet listed on the web.