HIV patient

NurseFirst · Feb 19, 2005

Kinda new, so help me please. I found out that one of my residents is HIV-positive where I work. I don't treat him any differently, and he is an awesome person. Well, passing meds, he puts the med cup to his mouth and gets a little saliva on it. I took the med cup and it touched my skin. Now, I wash my hands all the time and all, but i noticed I had a tiny cut on my cuticle(it burned when I washed my hands). Is there a possibility of infection? I read up on it, and half says HIV is in saliva and half says it's not(that's why you can kiss someone and be OK). Does anyone have input please? Freaking out here............ :uhoh21:

When did this happen?

FWIW: less than 1% of Needlestick injuries where the needle had been used on an HIV pt resulted in HIV infection. You might be able to find out more on the CDC website. There are also a TON of HIV/AIDS websites where you can find out useful information. I've been told that the AIDS virus has been found in all body fluids--but that doesn't necessarily mean that it is easy to be transmitted that way. The AIDS virus is extremely fragile and does not live outside the body for very long. (unlike, say, Hep B & Hep C).

Good luck,

NurseFirst

cursenurse · Feb 19, 2005

Kinda new, so help me please. I found out that one of my residents is HIV-positive where I work. I don't treat him any differently, and he is an awesome person. Well, passing meds, he puts the med cup to his mouth and gets a little saliva on it. I took the med cup and it touched my skin. Now, I wash my hands all the time and all, but i noticed I had a tiny cut on my cuticle(it burned when I washed my hands). Is there a possibility of infection? I read up on it, and half says HIV is in saliva and half says it's not(that's why you can kiss someone and be OK). Does anyone have input please? Freaking out here............ :uhoh21:

i don't know about the chance of infection, but i do think that you should fill out an incident report-just in case, so that there is a record of the incident.

fergus51 · Feb 19, 2005

You are not going to get HIV this way and there is no need to fill out an incident report. I think you would look a little odd to your supervisor if you did. Being able to detect the virus in saliva doesn't mean it can be transmitted that way. Did his saliva have blood in it? Did that rub up into your cut (I'm assuming you don't actually touch your cuticle to med cups when you pick them up)? Otherwise, I don't see the big deal.

http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pubs/facts/transmission.htm

Saliva, Tears, and Sweat

HIV has been found in saliva and tears in very low quantities from some AIDS patients. It is important to understand that finding a small amount of HIV in a body fluid does not necessarily mean that HIV can be transmitted by that body fluid. HIV has not been recovered from the sweat of HIV-infected persons. Contact with saliva, tears, or sweat has never been shown to result in transmission of HIV.

Debbie_LPN · Feb 20, 2005

you are not going to get hiv this way and there is no need to fill out an incident report. i think you would look a little odd to your supervisor if you did. being able to detect the virus in saliva doesn't mean it can be transmitted that way. did his saliva have blood in it? did that rub up into your cut (i'm assuming you don't actually touch your cuticle to med cups when you pick them up)? otherwise, i don't see the big deal.
http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pubs/facts/transmission.htm
saliva, tears, and sweat
hiv has been found in saliva and tears in very low quantities from some aids patients. it is important to understand that finding a small amount of hiv in a body fluid does not necessarily mean that hiv can be transmitted by that body fluid. hiv has not been recovered from the sweat of hiv-infected persons. contact with saliva, tears, or sweat has never been shown to result in transmission of hiv.

thank you soooooooo much!!!!!! i read the article, and i am very at ease tonight! like i said, i'm new to treating patients with hiv. it makes me so happy that i won't contract it this way! :roll

fergus51 · Feb 20, 2005

Your very welcome. Although HIV is a scary disease, it isn't easily spread. It's actually pretty hard to catch it in the health care setting.