Hep C needlestick injury - please help!

Trauma Columnist · Dec 14, 2005

Hi Gilda and sorry for this incident. Was this reported when it happened? Did the patient get tested immediately? Did you receive gamma globulin? Have you been seen at Occupational Health? Sorry for the questions, but need to know what you have done so far.

SFCardiacRN · Dec 14, 2005

Sounds psychological. Were you wearing gloves? They can act like a squeegee to remove the patients blood. Did you contact employee health and your primary care physician? You need to. Good luck!

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Dec 14, 2005

10 days ago I got a needlestick from a lancet after fingerstick. Today I my doctor told me that the patient is Hep C+. I am worry. Im also nauseous and have right upper quadrant pains. Can it be because I am nerveous? Can it be psycological? Please respond if somebody had th same syptoms or worries.

I believe that it takes longer than 10 days to get symptoms from HepC+ stick. The CDC website should help you.

gilda · Dec 15, 2005

Thanks for response. I reported my accident right away. and was on profilactic treatment for HIV for 3 days(couldn't take it anymore). Today my doc told me that the patient is hepC+. I feel nauseous all the time. My doc told me it can be related to extreme stress. Please help me with your information. My doc told me it is a low risk to get HepC from lancet with limited amount of blood. I also have dull pains in my upper quadrant which also can be psycological. I can't eat, sleep or function. Please respond.

jamieRN · Dec 15, 2005

Gilda,

I'm so sorry this has happened to you, and I really think what you're feeling right now is not symptoms of Hepatitis C (if you are even infected). Stress can make you feel bad, and it's probably just psychosomatic right now. The CDC says that the chance of getting infected from a needlestick from a Hep C+ person is 1.8%. Take a deep breath (I know it's hard) and just get tested as soon as possible. The statistics are in your favor.

-Jamie

caholbr · Dec 16, 2005

I had a scare with hep C + patient 5 weeks ago. I was giving insulin and I felt the needle when I injected it into the patients arm. I milked my finger and didn't get any blood and I think I only cought the side of the needle not the tip end, but its nerve wracking. When you stuck yourself, did it draw blood or did the needle just bounce? There has to be blood to blood transmission for there to be a hep c exposure. Even if that does occur, the chances of you getting hep c are small. My doctor told me she once cut herself to the bone with a razor doing surgery on a hep c patient and she still didn't get it.

I took a antibody test at 5wks and it was negative, I go back in the middle of February for the 3m test. The good news is you know your patient didn't have HIV, I don't know that about mine and I wish I did:)

Allison

gilda · Dec 16, 2005

Thanks for response. I hope your 3m test and HIV test come back negative.

I am still nervous. By reading different personal stories make me more calm. I am presently gettinf psycotherapy because because of my stress I can't function. I can't sleep, or eat.

I wonder what can be done to improve my immune system. I heard that if the person got virus the body can clear it up. My accupanturist and herbal MD states there are herbs to improve immune system Does anyone knows about it.

Nurse Ratched, RN · Dec 16, 2005

Gilda, we're not qualified to give you medical advice re: herbs and the like. Given the potential toxic liver effects of some "natural" remedies, I strongly encourage you not to seek advice on the internet regarding this, but rather from your healthcare provider about specific questions. I will wish you well regarding this and also encourage you to tell your doctor about the extreme anxiety this is causing you. There may be something s/he can do about that.

Nurse Ratched, RN · Dec 16, 2005

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/bbp/

Here is some additional information.