HIV from bed linens?

[Guest999]

Hello, I am a student nurse who also works as a nurse aide at a hospital. I recently had a patient of which I did not know was HIV positive. I made their bed without gloves (but of course washed my hands afterward). It wasn't wet and there was no blood, but now I'm really upset at the fact that I'm afraid I may have been exposed? They also put their arm around my neck when I was transferring them off the toilet (after wiping themselves). I'm afraid to get intimate with my significant other because of this. I understand it gets transferred through needle sticks and so forth and never heard of it being transferred by touching the bed linen, but I'm actually really worried.

Any input would be great! Thank you.

[Altra, BSN, RN]

Here's a link with some good info for you.

http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/basic/index.htm#transmission

You cannot acquire HIV from bed linens. However ... I never change linens without gloves. No fear of HIV, just the general ick factor.

Good luck with your studies.

[Guest999]

Here's a link with some good info for you.

http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/basic/index.htm#transmission

You cannot acquire HIV from bed linens. However ... I never change linens without gloves. No fear of HIV, just the general ick factor.

Good luck with your studies.

I actually had found that link the other day. I usually don't change linens without gloves but of course the one day that I'm rushing, I didn't use them. I appreciate your time and thank you!

[beachbum3]

I wouldn't worry, you can't get HIV from someone touching you or changing bed linens.

[zamboni]

Nor can you get HIV from them putting their arm around you.

[Dolce, RN]

Actually, it is common misperceptions like these that cause HIV positive patients to feel ostracized. You cannot get HIV from a toilet seat, from human touch, from kissing someone, from hugging someone, from touching their clothes, or from eating food that they ate. Even needlestick injury has a very low transmission rate.

The ways you can get HIV include unprotected sex, shared IV needles, and maternal-infant transmission.

[megananne7]

I was starting to wonder if this was an honest question or if the OP was a troll.

[nghtfltguy, BSN, RN]

I wouldn't worry, you can't get HIV from someone touching you or changing bed linens.

exactly~~

ppl are so afraid of pts w/ HIV.... or AIDS.....

seriously.... don't be..... they are regular ppl just like us..

don 't share needles w/ them... which you probably don't do w/ any other pts... i hope....

HIV/AIDS ppl are regular ppl that caught the virus....

we are all working on a cure..

don't be scared of that virus.... a lot of ppl are.

universal precautions................. thats alllllllllllllll ya need

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

HIV is not a very hardy virus and, thus, doesn't survive outside the body for long.

I seriously doubt the OP was exposed. People who share living quarters with HIV-infected individuals miraculously remain HIV-negative after performing everyday stuff such as sharing meals, hugging, and...changing the bed linens.

[Dalzac, LPN, LVN, RN]

I was written up and then given a very hostile education by a Doctor because my ignorant self donned the full battle garb, hair and shoes included, to go into a HIV pt room. I read everything I could on these patients. I felt like a fool after my information search. HIV is very hard to get other than the unprotected sex sharing needles etc. The Doc even made a big point of telling me that it was okay to touch them without gloves. a hand ungloved on the arm or any place clean. They have to be clean and they have to be comforted. They are sick patients period. Just use standard precautions like you do on ALL patients. BTW that Doc and I became good friends after that. She even ask me to work in her HIV clinic

[Guest999]

I appreciate everyone who helped but rude comments are not necessary. Obviously it was an honest question and if you're not going to offer positive input, then you need not to post in threads. This is a community and we are here to help each other, not ridicule.

It is not needed to tell me that HIV pt's are "people, too". I'm well aware, thank you. Just because the virus frightens me, does not mean I avoided the pt for the rest of the day and did not help her. I came into her room just like I would every other pt and I didn't slap on gloves, a gown and a mask and whatever garb have you. That's absolutely ridiculous. I know you can't get it from kissing, hugging, ect.. I was just worried about genital secretions on the bed linens and from their hand to my neck not from them just touching me.

But as said, thanks to those who helped.

[donsterRN, ASN, BSN]

And on that note, we'll close the thread.

Thanks, all!