"bacterial pneumonia" question

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Specializes in ICU/CCU/CVICU/ED/HS.

HELP!!!!!...I am an EMT-P/GN and a patient coughed in my face while I was taking her B/P. I felt the droplets hit my face and immediately wiped my face with sterile water/alcohol wipes. I told the E.R. physician what had happened and he told me the patient was one of his and had a hx of "bacterial pneumonia." Should I ask for prophilactic antibiotics or should I "wait and see" like he suggested? I do NOT trust this doc...he is an @$$ (O). THANX...OH...BTW...The "hx is ...she is still being treated...the call was for "chest pain/Dyspnea."

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I don't know what "history" of bacterial pneumonia means. Is this within 1 week or 6 months? What is the cough from. the pneumonia or the flu or a cold? I would worry more about antibiotic resistance than contacting pneumonia. Just keep an eye on yourself and if you get symptoms, see your doc or NP and tell them what happened.Good luck. It's scary how easily we can get exposure to illnesses and fluids even when taking a BP!

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I don't know what "history" of bacterial pneumonia means. Is this within 1 week or 6 months? What is the cough from. the pneumonia or the flu or a cold? I would worry more about antibiotic resistance than contacting pneumonia. Just keep an eye on yourself and if you get symptoms, see your doc or NP and tell them what happened.Good luck. It's scary how easily we can get exposure to illnesses and fluids even when taking a BP!

That has happened to me too. I don't think it matters if a Pt has a "hx" of it or not. Once you have it, and treat it, it's gone.

Yeah, I would just be aware of any sx you may be exhibiting, and then take it from there - in case she CURRENTLY has it.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Remember most people in good health have a lot of built in mechanisms to word off unfriendly bacteria, otherwise we'd all be dead by now.

I would treat any symptoms if they develop, but try to relax otherwise.

Good luck.

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I agree - wait and see. Pneumonia exposure isn't treated prophylactically like TB or bacterial meningitis. If you have any s/s, then get treated. Hopefully you won't need to!

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Specializes in Gerontological, cardiac, med-surg, peds.

With droplet spray, I would be more concerned about the possibility of tuberculosis.

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