Can I get hep C without a needle stick?

[futurerntho]

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?

[Tex.]

And shoe covers!

Lol. Seriously, I worry more about those nasty shopping cart handles at the grocery store. And don't even get me started on Wal Mart carts....PPE should be provided at the door by the little old guy that asks "Do you want a buggy?"

Yes, I sure do want a buggy. And gloves. And a gown. And a mask. Oh! And do you have show covers???? 😜

[ixchel]

It will take few times

Are you responding to a specific post? Or are you saying it will take a few times of needle stick-less exposure to contract hep C?

Is this like when you can't get pregnant the first time you have sex?

(I kid, tazreeakter! Btw, my phone wants to autocorrect you to "tax reactor".)

[la_chica_suerte85, BSN, RN]

You only would have gotten HCV from this pt if y'all got along really well and decided to cement your everlasting friendship by getting matching goldfish tattoos and using the same needle. Also, you guys would have to share a pastrami sandwich.

Otherwise......

Are you a hypochondriac or something?

[la_chica_suerte85, BSN, RN]

Stop freaking out about the super-low-risk diseases you will most likely never contract. Why aren't you all up in arms about the MRSA you probably touched while looking at produce in the grocery store? Or the CRE/VRE you brushed against while in line at the DMV?

Seriously. That sting the OP got on the elbow from the sanitizer was the sign that all the beneficial bacteria were being offed only to let the MRSA organisms take over and thrive in the cut...muwahhahahahahahaha :Dracula: