i've had a needlestick! Pt. is Hep c+

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in PACU/Cardiac/Nrsg. Mgmt./M/S.

i got a needlestick on saturday..my pt. was confused, disoriented, and dying of hepatic failure. she is alcoholic, and who knows about her past. she is also hep c+. initial hiv on her was -.

it was a s.q. needle and she was squirmy. she jumped around before i could trigger the retractor on the needle.

needless to say, i am just devastated. the occ rn for my facility said that they have had 10 sticks like these in the last couple of years, and none of the nurses have seroconverted.

how many out there have been in this situation?

and if so, who has used interferon if they have seroconverted?

moon :o

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Moon - please relax! I know this is terribly upsetting and nerve-wracking. Please get more info from Occ Health. Do they offer prophylactic treatment? I think whether or not to take the HIV cocktail or immunoglobulin has a lot to do about how the occ health people rate the risk. At our hospital, the MD has an algorithim (sp?) to go by, rates the risk and then decides with input from you.

I wish you the best, but your best weapon is going to be more info.

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Specializes in PACU/Cardiac/Nrsg. Mgmt./M/S.

my occ health dept at the hospital said they do not use anything unless the staff member in question has seroconverted..they do not use any antivirals as a prophalactic measure either.

thanks for your reply...all i can do is sit and wait...

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

I can just tell you relax. It is a scary thing indeed. I needlesticked when an aggressive resident banged into me when I was giving insulin and the needle jabbed into my arm. I was extremely freaked out and per policy and procedure, I had to leave immediately and have AIDS and Hep B done. I had a whole pile of IM's, due to the fact that I never had a my Hep B shots (I know, I know, bad nurse). So I had the first shot, 2 shots of gamma globulin and tetorifice. They started me on AZT until they knew for sure she was HIV-, as she was classified "High Risk," due to her history. She turned out to be Hep B positive, but 9 months later, I am okay. The doctor told me that the chance of getting anything from a sub-cu needle is rare, but it sure never made it easy for me. Just try and relax and take care of yourself. I guess I never thought anything like that would ever happen to me. Now I am more careful with where I give insulin.

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I am very sorry to hear that. I hope everything is ok Please keep us updated as to what the out come is.

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Specializes in PACU/Cardiac/Nrsg. Mgmt./M/S.

i checked out the cdc's web site on hep c...it really did nothing to comfort me...ie: healthcare workers getting hep c after conjunctival exposure to body fluid..now, just how freaky is that?

thanks for your words of encouragement.

moon

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