hep c positive patient needlestick

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi. Yesterday I got my first needlestick from a patient that has a history of chronic hep C. I had a 21 or 23 gage butterfly (cant remember exactly which one) and got a tiny bit of flash at the insertion site. I went to stick the end of the tubing into the lab specimen for the vacutainer and that is what stuck me *from the other side of the butterfly needle*. I am totally paranoid, even though it seems there was no blood to blood contact. I bled and bled, washed my hands, expressed it more and did all the work up for me and the patient. I know the results for the patient will come back positive. I am mostly scared and paranoid because I am 16 weeks pregnant. What are the chances, and am I being silly about this since there was likely no blood to blood direct contact?

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Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

Hi,

Was there blood in the tubing beyond the little flash? If not I wouldn't worry one single bit. If I hear right you stuck yourself with the needle in the vacutainer that you stick the tube onto to pull the blood into the tube. If there was no blood there yet then there was no exposure.....

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

Congrats on the baby and I am so sorry you are experiencing this.....it must be very upsetting. Speak you your MD and possibly seek counseling with your EAP/employee health at work and follow their advice and guidlines for exposure. However we are unable to give medical advice, please seek medical attention and consult with your OB/GYN and PCP as well as employee health.

Have faith...it'll be OK......:hug:

http://www.ceiwidget.com/pdf/pep-hepC.pdf exposure guidlines

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/gl_occupational.html post exposure guidelines

http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/c/cfaq.htm

http://www.hepcnet.net/hepatitiscfaq.html

http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/diseases/hepatitis_c.html

http://www.idph.state.il.us/public/hb/hbhepc.htm

http://www.hcvadvocate.org/hcsp/articles/Jensen.html

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Hi,

Was there blood in the tubing beyond the little flash? If not I wouldn't worry one single bit. If I hear right you stuck yourself with the needle in the vacutainer that you stick the tube onto to pull the blood into the tube. If there was no blood there yet then there was no exposure.....

yes i stuck myself with the needle in the vacutainer, and there was no blood beyond the flash, the vein then blew when i poked myself.

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Obviously your risk is low, luckily. But my stomach still did a turn for you!!

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Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

Of course consult your MD, employee health, blah blah blah

But, if I was you i would not even spend one second worrying about this since the only blood was yours!:D

Hey, if you had to have a needle stick thank goodness it was like that.

My worst needle stick was deep into my finger with a needle that had been used for a cervical block!:eek::eek::eek::eek:

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Specializes in Med-Surg, & ED.

We hope we learn from what we experience, good or bad. I hope you learned from this and be more cautious of the situation you're in; imagine a pt swinging their ARM while you r trying to draw blood with a 23 g butterfly needle and the needle goes flying off the pts ARM onto ur skin...horrible situation. Be aware of the unpredictable and never never never take any chances when doing blood work, starting and iv, gastric fluids, spinal fluids, etc. Be careful, its not worth taking a chance, have someone help u hold ARM IN PLACE ...and tell them to be ready to move back ...Agh!!!! Scary!!!!

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Make sure you always use a holder for the Vacutainer tubes. This will prevent this type of accident. You can purchase blood collection sets (buterflies) with a preattached holder.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Speak to your doctor, make sure you file a work incident njury claim ASAP if you haven't done so, just to protect yourself. I'm told the risks are low, though higher than HIV. We had a nurse with a hep c needle stick and she was told there was nothing to do, they didn't offer the antivirals like they would if you were exposed to HIV and reassured her the risk of transmission was low, but she moved to FL so I don't know how things turned out for her.

We use a needleless system for blood draws to protect ourselves, but as you know even when you do everything right, freak things can happen. I pray everything turns out all right for you and your baby!

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

This issue might be better taken up with your Occ Health folks.

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