should I be concerned?

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I work in a gynocology office. At the end of the day, we scrub speculums before putting them into the autoclave. While doing this my goggles fogged up, and I removed them and somehow got a tiny splash into my eye. The speculums sit in a bucket of organisol water and had been soaking in it for four hours. One of our patients today is HIV positive. Should I be concerned?

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Specializes in cardiac, oncology.

You should have reported this to your supervisor. We cannot answer the question. Report it first thing in morning.

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Specializes in Intermediate care.

i would just report it and let them decide.

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my supervisor had already left for the day. I was going to in the am, but I don't feel that concerned. I was just asking just to get opinions if this happened to you if you would be concerned.

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I think you definitely should be concerned, but don't panic.

Talk to your supervisor. Figure out your next steps. Learn from this and don't do it again!

I hope everything turns out ok!

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Specializes in ICU, Hospice, Nursing Education.

Well, I think you should be concerned and should have at least reported it to a physician if your nursing mgr wasn't there. Don't panic though... it will not do you any good. Organisol is a detergent not a disinfectant. It basically disolves dried blood, tissue samples, etc.. So, if those particles were in the water, it may be an issue. Not really sure of the viability of that which is floating around in water though. I would make sure to report it as soon as you return to work. They can guide you better. I'm sure they have someone who can advise you appropriately through infection control. Hope all this works out for you!

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

Like others have said you should report it, but HIV is not viable once air borne, unlike Hep C which lives on almost anything.

But always report it

http://www.avert.org/hiv-aids-transmission.htm

http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/qa/index.htm

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Specializes in RN, BSN, CHDN.

Sorry we cannot give medical advice, may I suggest you discuss this with your supervisor and follow her advice

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