Stuck myself with dirty needle - please help.

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As the topic title suggests, there's not much detail I need to go into...

I'm actually a nursing student, but thought I'd receive more help posting here with advice from seasoned nurses.

Quick Facts:

-stuck using SubQ small bore insulin needle

-hospital protocol was followed (school protocol is the same with some extra paperwork)

-history/records were pulled - no infectious diseases in the chart; HOWEVER, pt. has cancer, diabetes, and on BIPAP.

-Blood was drawn from source pt. and so far it has come up negative (-) for HIV antibodies.

-hospital did drug urinalysis

From what I understand, the hepatitis series check takes more time to evaluate.

Can someone please tell me whether tuberculosis or any other disease should be scanned. The hospital was NO help and neither was my school.

Any advice you can give is critical. Please.

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

Do you know how tuberculosis is transmitted?

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How would you get tuberculosis from a needle stick?

But besides that, sounds like you have followed protocol and are covered in terms of blood borne pathogens. Get retested at intervals recommended by the hospital/school.

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Oh, good. I thought that this was the same poster who keeps asking about Hep sticks.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

You've done everything you can. Read up on TB transmission.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Diagram of TB spread by sneezingHow TB Spreads

TB is spread through the air from one person to another. The TB bacteria are put into the air when a person with TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs, sneezes, speaks, or sings. People nearby may breathe in these bacteria and become infected.

CDC | TB | Basic TB Facts

It's impossible to contract an airborne microbe via incidental needle stick.

Standards for post needle stick testing and prophylaxis

CDC - Bloodborne Infectious Diseases - Emergency Needlestick Information - NIOSH Workplace Safety and Health Topic

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Specializes in Behavioral Health.

HIV and Hep B/C are the standard tests run unless there's a reason to suspect something else.

We're trained to be terrified of needle sticks. Sorry that happened to you.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Stop searching for anomalies. You are only going to make yourself crazy. There has never been a case of pulmonary tuberculosis resulting from a needlestick.

Did you get stuck with an 18 gauge needle?

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Then follow up if you develop a nonhealing open wound. Otherwise, no tb.

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Specializes in Stepdown, PCCN.

Did your pt have TB? If not, it's moot, if so your shared article says you have about 3 weeks before the initial chancre develops. You followed both hospital and school protocol, I'm sure you'll be fine.

Maybe try calling the infection control and prevention department and see if they can give you more insight.

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