Can I get hep C without a needle stick?

Nurses Safety

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I had a patient with Hepatitis C and as I was taking care of her, I was leaning against the siderails of her bed. When I exited the room, I applied sanitizer on my elbows and felt a slight sting on my forearm near my elbow. I'm wondering if there's a cut somewhere over there, but all I felt was a bump. Is it possible that I was exposed to hep c from this?

I dont remember there being any blood on the siderails, and my patient had arm weakness, so I doubt she would be able to reach that far on the siderails.

Also, how soon is it to test for hep c after exposure?

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Specializes in Critical Care.

You should be safe so long as it was a negative airflow room and you had a properly fitted TB mask.

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Specializes in NICU,ICU,ER,MS,CHG.SUP,PSYCH,GERI.

TB mask and negative air flow for Hep C? When did Hep C become airborne?

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

I think (hope) the poster was kidding.

OP, are you a nurse? What have you learned about HCV transmission and blood borne infections?

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

You are the same poster who asked about getting a blood borne infection by being "poked" by the plastic IV cannula, yes?

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It's time to review blood borne pathogens and how the diseases are transmitted. If we could become infected this easily, we'd all test positive for one thing or another over time:unsure:

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Ok...maybe I'm wrong.....but do you folks remember someone posting a few months back about how she thinks she had a bloodborne exposure without actually having any point of entry? And how we talked her down, educated her as best we could.....and it went on, and on, with other questions that could only be from someone trolling us? Do people normally put hand sanitizer all the way up their arms to their elbows because they leaned on a siderail for a patient not on contact precautions?

The person disappeared, not surprisingly, after a series of threads that made absolutely no sense. Topics of fear included Hep C, HIV...This is SO familiar...RIGHT down to the "exposure" being touching dried blood (maybe, if that's what it was) on the siderails of a patient's bed!

OP, if you are that person from months ago, you really need to get a new hobby. If you are NOT, but are actually a student, you really need to meet with your instructor and a tutor and learn some basic IC/ID/IP guidelines. Your education is sorely lacking at this point.

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You should be safe so long as it was a negative airflow room and you had a properly fitted TB mask.

Best. Answer. Ever.

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You are the same poster who asked about getting a blood borne infection by being "poked" by the plastic IV cannula, yes?

Oh, my.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

You need to get off the message boards and review blood borne pathogens, infection control and somatoform disorders/hypochondriasis.

YOU CANNOT GET HEPATITIS FROM A HANDRAIL. HANDWASHING (30-60 second scrub under warm running water) OVER SANITIZER

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Ok...maybe I'm wrong.....but do you folks remember someone posting a few months back about how she thinks she had a bloodborne exposure without actually having any point of entry? And how we talked her down, educated her as best we could.....and it went on, and on, with other questions that could only be from someone trolling us? Do people normally put hand sanitizer all the way up their arms to their elbows because they leaned on a siderail for a patient not on contact precautions?

The person disappeared, not surprisingly, after a series of threads that made absolutely no sense. Topics of fear included Hep C, HIV...This is SO familiar...RIGHT down to the "exposure" being touching dried blood (maybe, if that's what it was) on the siderails of a patient's bed!

OP, if you are that person from months ago, you really need to get a new hobby. If you are NOT, but are actually a student, you really need to meet with your instructor and a tutor and learn some basic IC/ID/IP guidelines. Your education is sorely lacking at this point.

If this is someone with a true phobia, education isn't going to help, because it's an irrational fear. She should seek out treatment (if this is for real). They have some very effective therapy now for this kind of phobia.

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You should be safe so long as it was a negative airflow room and you had a properly fitted TB mask.

Thanks for my daily ha-ha. That was gold. :)

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