and yet another

Nurses General Nursing

Published

This incident really counts as a valid needlestick injury. My patient has an autoimmune disease, we were suppose to start an intrajugular catheter. It was my third time assisting in the mini-OR for the insertion. The procedure went well. After the procedure he wanted to test the patency of the catheter. After checking the patency, he passed the syringe to me without a cap on. I dont know how it happened but it grazed my thumb and I felt it pierce to my gloves. When I removed my gloves, I saw the site. I let it bleed. I washed it. My patient is negative for hbsag. My patient was pancytopenic. He also undergoes dialysis. Sadly, this public institution has no protocol for these cases. I do not know what to do. Please support me and message me fellow nurses

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Autoimmune, and immune deficiency aren't the same thing. OSHA requires follow up for needle sticks- if your job is being irresponsible, you can go to the county health department for follow up- and reporting any absence of OSHA required follow up with them.... Even though it's not immune deficiency, I would think there should be some follow up lab work now, and in 3 months (not sure of the exact timeline).....also, call your PCP..... :) I'm sorry this happened, but it sounds fairly low risk unless there are other things going on.

I have never heard of autoimmune diseases being transmitted via needle sticks :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER.

needle stick injury at your facility has no protocol to follow? How about go to your ED and tell them needle stick injury on the job. They will assess your risk and go from there.

If you don't work at a facility that has an ED and you're concerned, go to the nearest ED. I'd have it documented, either way, if it were me. Better to be seen where that patient is.... but by the time you wrote this, you hadn't been seen, that patient might be discharged, so testing them for HIB/HIV wouldn't be an option.... you need to follow up with your employee health for sure too.

http://www.who.int/occupational_health/activities/5prevent.pdf

Up Vote Up Vote ×

OSHA requirements for employers if they have an employee with possible exposure to blood born pathogens.....

http://www.orprecautions.com/needlestickact.html

http://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/articles/2001/08/osha-compliance.aspx

OSHA doesn't "suggest" what it requires to be done for needlesticks, it fines facilities for not doing them....if your employer gives you many trouble w/this, find OSHA's website, and file a complaint.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
This incident really counts as a valid needlestick injury. My patient has an autoimmune disease, we were suppose to start an intrajugular catheter. It was my third time assisting in the mini-OR for the insertion. The procedure went well. After the procedure he wanted to test the patency of the catheter. After checking the patency, he passed the syringe to me without a cap on. I dont know how it happened but it grazed my thumb and I felt it pierce to my gloves. When I removed my gloves, I saw the site. I let it bleed. I washed it. My patient is negative for hbsag. My patient was pancytopenic. He also undergoes dialysis. Sadly, this public institution has no protocol for these cases. I do not know what to do. Please support me and message me fellow nurses

If they are accreditited they have a policy...If they are a public institution they better have a protocol....if they don't report them......to OSHA.....

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/bbp/emergnedl.html

Needle stick Protocol CDC

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/bbp/emergnedl.html

Up Vote Up Vote ×

the client has sle, is it possible that she has hiv also??:(( I feel depressed.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Please contact the OSHA to file a report. Contact your Primary care

MD and inform him or her of your injury at work and your report to the CDC.

This lack of policy is also putting other workers at risk as well as they

care for their patients.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

OSHA is for the US, I am not in the U.S. so it is not within their scope.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER.

where do you live??

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med Surg.
the client has sle, is it possible that she has hiv also??:(( I feel depressed.

Why would lupus mean a pt also has HIV? They are two very different diseases. It's possible that the pt does have HIV, but that wouldn't be related to the SLE.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER.

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/332244-overview

it's an autoimmune disease, can't see why you'd jump to HIV.... you don't "catch" SLE, but you do with HIV/HIB.....

remember HIV is ACQUIRED.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
the client has sle, is it possible that she has hiv also??:(( I feel depressed.

It's possible- but SLE is not a part of the 'usual' suspects with HIV, like pneumocystis, Kaposi's sarcoma, etc. I'd be willing to guess that the vast majority of SLE patients have no greater incidence of HIV than the 'normal' population.... SLE is not transmitted via blood exposure- it's AUTOimmune- the body reacts to something within itself, and causes the lupus....:twocents:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment