Removing needle from syringe

Nurses General Nursing

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Hello everyone:

I'm a Nursing Student and was wondering if anyone had a needle stick after being exposed to a known HIV+ patient.

What are the chances of one being infected after such exposure. I know it's part of the job but have been stressing over this for quite some time.

-GM

Yes, a responsible adult would do that but when you're unsure if it actually happened - you're scared to come forward about it. At least, that's what I think happened in this case.

Maybe anxiety or paranoia is to blame in the following situation but nevertheless, the worst case scenario is often thought of and hence this topic.

Specializes in LTC, AC, ER, Outpatient, Urgent Care.

Yes, I've read the entire thread, thinking there was a resolution someplace. :uhoh3:

First of all, OSHA visited us last month, and the chance of HIV from a needlestick was stated as "0.6%". The chances of Hep B/C are greater, but like many of us, I focused on the HIV number - which was foolish, since Hep B/C can be quite deadly as well. This has to be my 24th inservice on the subject, and the numbers keep going up and down... which is annoying.

Suffice to say, keep your eye on the pointy end.

Antiretrovirals are toxic, no doubt - but you can bet your bippy that if I get stuck tomorrow, I'll swallow a "cocktail" by days end, and continue therapy - and I'd rather be sick from the ARV regimen than take a chance with the alternative.

As far as the original post goes - I agree with the admin, and I won't chum the waters any further. Maybe it's my eyesight being 20/30, but I can't see a flyer stuck to my own front door while pulling up in my driveway - so I doubt anyone can see "tape" (silk, paper or micropore?) stuck to a door handle while driving on a perpendicular roadway.

Regarding PEP, I would recommend that anyone take it after a needlestick, at least until the source pt has clearly tested negative (which doesn't cover the window period, but since the risk is so low anyway, in general PEP is d/c'd at this time).

I took Combivir for about a week after a stick with a subq needle and had no side effects whatsoever. Even if I had - or had to take it longer due to HIV+ or unknown source pt - I would have done so. Why take the chance if there is effective PEP?

DeLana

GM, we're not talking about a responsible adult, we're talking about a normal response, which would have been to immediately try to determine what the sharp object was. If that didn't happen for whatever reason, the next normal response would have been to let the clinic staff know, if not immediately then when the fears started to set in. To panic and only contact a friend who happens to be a nursing student, rather than a physician or HIV/AIDS clinic, makes absolutely no sense.

GM, we're not talking about a responsible adult, we're talking about a normal response, which would have been to immediately try to determine what the sharp object was. If that didn't happen for whatever reason, the next normal response would have been to let the clinic staff know, if not immediately then when the fears started to set in. To panic and only contact a friend who happens to be a nursing student, rather than a physician or HIV/AIDS clinic, makes absolutely no sense.

I completely agree with you.

Well, I guess he was shocked/anxious/denying the whole incident and when the fears settled in, he didn't want to accept any of it.

He'll test at the end of this month so hopefully he is negative.

Specializes in Lie detection.
I completely agree with you.

Well, I guess he was shocked/anxious/denying the whole incident and when the fears settled in, he didn't want to accept any of it.

He'll test at the end of this month so hopefully he is negative.

I think your friend really blew this whole incident out of proportion. Did he even have a cut or any kind of skin break on his hand at all? Any blood?

I'm sure he's fine. I've had a needlestick to an unknown risk and an eyesplash with body fluid to a known HIV + pt. and I'm fine.

Tell your buddy to calm down, there's enough KNOWN things in the world to get excited over :eek: ...LOL

He's freaked out that he's been exposed to HIV and he's waiting until the end of the month to test??????

That's it, I'm done here.

I know it's not a conclusive result but it's a VERY good indication of what his result will be at the 13 week mark.

CDC has been conservative throughout - they've dropped their 6 month window period down to 3 months but most antibody tests nowadays detect HIV within 6 weeks as 90%+ seroconvert within 22+ days and only a few will wait until 6 months (but those are usually people with depleted immune systems, undergoing chemo., or are extensive IV drug abusers).

You have to understand that this is not a MEDICAL situation and perhaps that is why he didn't follow protocol and will not test all the way through 12 months. I know there have been three cases of late seroconversion in nurses past the 6 month mark who were both co-infected with HCV and HIV - but that is very rare.

He may be blowing this out of the proportion but I have sympathy for him. Why else does someone stick a sharp behind a door handle?

Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.
He may be blowing this out of the proportion but I have sympathy for him. Why else does someone stick a sharp behind a door handle?

Why does someone get stuck by anything on a door handle to a public building (the alleged dirty needle, or just the splinter from hell ...) and not go up to the front desk of this public building and say, "hey - there's something on the door."

I sooo was not going to come back to this ...

...hah, because they're unsure and maybe think the rest of the world will think of them as a crazy individual? Good point nevertheless.

Specializes in Critical Care.
You have to understand that this is not a MEDICAL situation and perhaps that is why he didn't follow protocol and will not test all the way through 12 months. I know there have been three cases of late seroconversion in nurses past the 6 month mark who were both co-infected with HCV and HIV - but that is very rare.

He may be blowing this out of the proportion but I have sympathy for him. Why else does someone stick a sharp behind a door handle?

I don't see how it's not a medical situation. It happened in a clinic and it involves HIV. Hello, that IS MOST DEFINITELY a medical situation.

You know, that whole thing is so weird that I am wondering what is really going on here. I still am of the mind that it's not what it's being portrayed as being.

tvccrn

I know it's not a conclusive result but it's a VERY good indication of what his result will be at the 13 week mark.

CDC has been conservative throughout - they've dropped their 6 month window period down to 3 months but most antibody tests nowadays detect HIV within 6 weeks as 90%+ seroconvert within 22+ days and only a few will wait until 6 months (but those are usually people with depleted immune systems, undergoing chemo., or are extensive IV drug abusers).

You have to understand that this is not a MEDICAL situation and perhaps that is why he didn't follow protocol and will not test all the way through 12 months.

I knew I shouldn't have come back in here..........

A) Anyone can be tested at any time for HIV....not just after a suspected exposure. In fact, if an exposure is suspected, immediate testing is strongly suggested to verify that the pt is indeed negative now.

B) Explain how this isn't medical????????

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