Dirty needle stick...and I'm 20 weeks pregnant...

[tbr96]

I never thought this would happen to me, but I was stuck with a dirty needle and to top it off, I'm 20 weeks pregnant with my first child. Scary, huh! The pt tested negative for HIV/Hepatitis, but theres still that thought that she could still be infected and maybe the virus has not mutated to make her test positive. I took Combivere, which is my employers protocol, which is a pregnancy category C. It was such a freak incident, I was stuck with the needle from an insulin pen, which is pretty much fool-proof, but the pt was very skinny and actually pierced through her skin and into my finger. Prayers and words of encouragement would be great...thanks!

[DaughteroftheKing]

Wow I am so sorry for you!! In Jesus name nothing will infect you ... Ill say a prayer for a healthy momma & a healthy baby ...

:) Laura

[Nicky30, BSN, RN]

Me too. I have fingers crossed.

Nicky.

[Diary/Dairy, RN]

I am so sorry you are having to go through this!! :icon_hug:

Good luck to you and your family!

[Penny8611]

Scary stuff, but prayers are coming from here!

[ann945n, RN]

Im sure you just feel terrible going through this. I hope you have a healthy baby and nothing comes of this. Hugs to you.

[aeauooo]

Did you talk to the ED doc about your risk of acquiring HIV?

It's pretty low - you might want to look up the stats on occupational HIV transmission to health care providers - check the CDC website (http://www.cdc.gov)

[CHATSDALE]

if this of any comfort, i have had two sticks from confirmed hiv+ and neither has given me anything except a lot of worry

first time i was a single parent with a small child to raise and there was no test to confirm whether or not i was infected

to make matters worse i came down with pneumonia for about two weeks and this was followed by the worse uti i ever had

i survived, when the test became available i was cleared, i raised my child all is well

i wasn't pregnant and i know that this adds to your worry but the odds are definitely in your favorf

good luck

[BrokenRNheart]

I worked with AIDS pt's in early research.

Not to down play your fear at all because I would feel the way you do. But just to give you a little ease to your worry.

AIDS basically does not live when it hits air. Unlike Hepatitis that can live for months AIDS is fluid to fluid. That would probably be why there aren't a lot of medical staff contracting it. You poked yourself, not injected I assume. I'm sure you washed right away.

I worked with nurses that poked themselves on the unit and never ever contracted or converted.

Not that I wouldn't be worried, but I believe you will be fine. I hope this helps some.

I am so sorry that you are having to deal with this.

[southern rn]

Many years ago, I was stuck by a dirty needle while still in nursing school. I was 8 months pg at the time. I was stuck with the dirty needle from an IV start. Nothing bad ever came of it, fortunately. My son is almost 18 and getting ready to graduate from high school. Try not to stress over this.:)

[akcarmean, LPN]

prayers coming your way try not to stress to much its not good for You or the baby

[aeauooo]

if this of any comfort, i have had two sticks from confirmed hiv+ and neither has given me anything except a lot of worry

A friend of mine got stuck once with a needle she had just used on a guy who died of AIDS the next day. I went to the ED with her and listen to the doc tell her about her risks. When she finally uncovered her finger to show him the puncture wound, he laughed.

I got stuck for the first time a couple of months ago and almost didn't report it.

In the Grand Scheme of Things, you place yourself at much higher risk of injury and death everytime you drive or ride in a car, and how often do you worry about that?