HIV+ residents

[mo_07]

[color=sandybrown]i work in a nursing facilitity in oklahoma, and there is a resident who is hiv positive. every time i go into the residents room my hands start to shake. but does the care that i give to the resident give me a greater chance to contract the hiv virus? or do i have the right to refuse certain care? and even though we wear gloves and gowns is that enough? should face masks be worn? i'm not sure what to think about all of this, so i surfed the web and it said that we could get it from un-chewed food! i mean the resident spits the food out after chewing it. please help!

[mo_07]

It's not that I treat him different now, its just me thinking about the situation. I also tried to look it up and it said that it can be contracted through mucous membranes and that it can be transmitted through pre-chewed food especially since HIV patients normally have open sores in their mouths. He also has a brain tumor and we have to be in CLOSE contact with his face, ears, mouth, and nose. That's why i got worried and found this site.

I understand that I am there to take care and help them, but at the same time me and my family are number 1. My son and husband come first, and hope that doesnt sound mean but it's true. I was taught that in order to care for or protect some one else, I have to take care and protect myself

[Jules A, MSN]

It's not that I treat him different now, its just me thinking about the situation. I also tried to look it up and it said that it can be contracted through mucous membranes and that it can be transmitted through pre-chewed food especially since HIV patients normally have open sores in their mouths. He also has a brain tumor and we have to be in CLOSE contact with his face, ears, mouth, and nose. That's why i got worried and found this site.

I understand that I am there to take care and help them, but at the same time me and my family are number 1. My son and husband come first, and hope that doesnt sound mean but it's true. I was taught that in order to care for or protect some one else, I have to take care and protect myself

Well as long as you aren't eating his pre-chewed food you shouldn't have a problem. Please read the replies you have gotten and check out the reputable links offered.

[leslie :-D]

It's not that I treat him different now, its just me thinking about the situation. I also tried to look it up and it said that it can be contracted through mucous membranes and that it can be transmitted through pre-chewed food especially since HIV patients normally have open sores in their mouths. He also has a brain tumor and we have to be in CLOSE contact with his face, ears, mouth, and nose. That's why i got worried and found this site.

would you provide the website/link that talks about the pre-chewed food?

i'd be very interested in reading it.

how would prechewed food and open sores, be transmitted to you?

even if he spit the food out and it hit your cheek/face, you'd still be fine.

why does your face have to be so close to his?

and please read hiv/transmission link i provided.

it should put your questions to rest.

leslie

[SillyStudent, ASN, RN]

My professor once told me that in order to contract AIDs from saliva you would have to drink about a bucket full of it, that is how rare it is...

I actually gagged when I read that....lol :barf01:

[casi, ASN, RN]

My micro instructor did a lot of research on saliva and the transmission of HIV. She stated that it was very rare to find HIV in the saliva, and even more rare to find enough of the virus to infect someone.

There are enzymes in saliva that help destroy the virus.

You need to keep yourself safe, but in this instant you're going a little overboard.

When working with people with communicable diseases the one I worry about the most is the stomach flu... I always seem to be able to get myself a case of it.

[GrumpyRN63, ADN, RN]

It's not that I treat him different now, its just me thinking about the situation. I also tried to look it up and it said that it can be contracted through mucous membranes and that it can be transmitted through pre-chewed food especially since HIV patients normally have open sores in their mouths.

Are you eating his pre-chewed food?? I don't get the concern again w/ the pre-chewed food?? If YOU had the open sores AND were eating his pre-chewed food, you might want to stop, you still probably would not be at risk of HIV but more likely hepatitis or strep throat... really, anyone can be HIV positive, we should treat everyone as if they are HIV positive, standard precautions are all that are necessary. That being said, I don't do anything different, hugs and (aghast) kisses included:heartbeat

[shelly304]

I am still trying to figure out if the OP is a CNA-that perhaps did not recieve the proper training and knowlegde to work with a patient who has HIV/AIDS.

[Acosmo27]

I actually gagged when I read that....lol :barf01:

lol I gagged when she told me that.

[heron, ASN, RN]

Dear OP, I don't know if you'll find this reassuring, but I worked for 11 years on a dedicated AIDS unit during the late 80's, early 90's. In all that time doing direct patient care, I never contracted the virus. We were, of course, careful to use standard precautions, but they were no more strict or extensive than those you would use anywhere. I did incontinent care, managed IV's, gave injections ... the full monty. It takes body fluid to body fluid contact to transmit the virus. You cannot get the virus across intact skin. Period.

I'd also like to back up a point made above: when surfing the net for information, you need always to consider the source. Keep in mind that the media does a pretty sloppy job of scientific reporting. Info you get from FOX news, 60 Minutes or the local tabloids should be taken with a grain of salt. As others have pointed out, the CDC is a great source of accurate info regarding transmission ... epidemiology is what they do all day every day. Us liberal lefty tree-huggers are not the only people in the world with a political agenda, and AIDS has been a political football for 30 years.

[coolpeach]

You also have to think of all the people you come in contact with every day. The worker at the Walmart, Daycare center, Bank, McDonalds, your childs teachers, the employees at the gym etc. Anyone of these people could have aids. Some of them may know it, and others may not. Think of how many people have HIV, but not full blown aids, and have not been tested so they do not know. They shake your hands, prepare your food, touch the money in your pocket, take care of your child, and come in contact with you everyday. Think of the handlebar on the buggy at the Walmart, all the door handles, and the flusher on public toilets.

You just take standard precautions with every patient, and in life. Wash your hands....wash your hands....wash your hands. Keep your immune system healthy so it protects you, practice super safe sex, and don't drink after others.

[Spritenurse1210, BSN, RN]

You would only have to worry about contracting HIV from saliva if it had blood in it. use your standard precautions and you should be fine.

[fournee, LPN]

"""""Think of how many people have HIV, but not full blown aids,""""""

There is no such thing as Full Blown AIDS.