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Isolation for AIDS patients who are bleeding



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Nov 29, 2003 08:45 PM

Isolation for AIDS patients who are bleeding

by Tweety Platinum Member

Quick question, we have a pt. with AIDS and that has some weeping blood from where she scratched. The nurses want to iso her. I said no because the AIDS will not spread to the other patient unless they have intimate contact. I was told "that's scarey to put someone in with her".


I'm a bit frustrated that in this day people don't know the transmission. Am I wrong. Is it better to isolate her because of some bleeding on her skin?


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16 Comments
No. 1
from kids
Old Nov 29, 2003, 08:59 PM
Updated Nov 29, 2003 at 09:04 PM by kids

Originally posted by 3rdShiftGuy
<snip> I'm a bit frustrated that in this day people don't know the transmission. Am I wrong. Is it better to isolate her because of some bleeding on her skin?
I can understand your frustration Tweety. Not to sound lax or sloppy (I do follow UP with everyone) my personal feelings have always been "if I'm not having sex or shooting dope with them (HIV+ persons) I don't have a whole lot to worry about".

I guess my answer to isolation depends on how able to "comply" with limiting potential transmittion the patient is.
I suppose I could see isolating the patient in a few very specific circumstances like: if they are confused and could smear blood on surfaces (there is a miniscule risk of someone touching the blood with an open wound within the very narrow time frame the virus remains alive). Or if they are agitated and could scratch someone with blood contaminated nails.

Otherwise the only reason I can see for isolation is to protect the patient from the nasty bugs that can run rampant in hospitals and then only if the would was open to air.
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No. 2
from BarbPick
Old Nov 29, 2003, 09:12 PM

Default The state of Florida agrees with you
Every 2 years to be relicensed, every Florida nurse must take an HIV update, and the BON audits contuing education.

I would dress the open area. End of Story.
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No. 3
Old Nov 30, 2003, 11:25 AM

LORDY LORDY, what would we do in OB where we literally *Wade* in blood in so many deliveries??? We have had HIV positive patients deliver where I am and we treat them with the SAME universal precautions as all the rest.....as far as we are concerned they are ALL POSITIVE for intents and purposes.....

I think putting a person who has wounds in isolation is excessive...and wasteful,if the only thing he has going is HIV pos status...... IF we are USING UNIVERSAL precautions, why should there be a problem here?
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No. 4
from Tweety
Old Nov 30, 2003, 03:03 PM

Thanks for the input. I just needed some validation. I did a little more education with the staff that most objected. She was a bit uncomfortable, so I got in there and dressed the weeping area, changed the linen, laughed, joked and carried on with the patient, touched the patient and showed the aide I had no fear. I also explained that this patient was more apt to get sick from us than we from her. Sigh...
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No. 5
from jnette
Old Nov 30, 2003, 04:23 PM

Good job, Tweets. As always.
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No. 6
from jnette
Old Nov 30, 2003, 04:28 PM

Added to note... we wouldn't even put our HIV pos dialysis patients in isolation ! And there's a LOT of blood contact/blood splashes in dialysis. We've not HAD any HIV pos. pts., but our policy is such that they would NOT require isolation. Hep. B and TB only.
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No. 7
from ktwlpn
Old Nov 30, 2003, 07:08 PM

Tweety is in LTC and the biggest problem is staff education...generally we are talking about people with little education and great prejudices that can be very difficult to overcome...
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No. 8
from Tweety
Old Nov 30, 2003, 07:19 PM

Originally posted by ktwlpn
Tweety is in LTC and the biggest problem is staff education...generally we are talking about people with little education and great prejudices that can be very difficult to overcome...
I guess you're right. But I can't help but be a little disappointed that after over 20 years of AIDS awareness, people still don't get it.
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No. 9
from BarbPick
Old Nov 30, 2003, 07:35 PM

Tweety, I will send you something you can bring to your facility in a pm.
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