needle stick injury.
By impactEDnurse • Jun 7th, 2007 • Category: the nurses desk:
It is more like a shock than a stick.
Another Saturday night, another rather intoxicated and uncooperative assault *victim*.
You have just completed a venipuncture and as you begin to withdraw metal from flesh the patient executes a flailing crocodile roll. His arm slaps against yours and the needle slices through latex and deep into your finger.
The sharp sting of the needle is accompanied by the sensation of your bowel squirting out your rectum like silly-string. Yes, it is definitely an awful moment for any nurse or doctor.
At some stage in our career many of us will receive a needle-stick injury. Over the twenty years that I have been working in the emergency department, I have had eight. Incredibly, three of those were during the resuscitation of a single patient. Thank-you very much Dr Zhivago*.
(*not his real name.)
These days needle-stick injuries are much more easily preventable. Many needle-less systems have been developed to eliminate the need for sharps in activities such as drawing up antibiotics and administering IV medications. Sharps bins should be in abundance in the work environment ensuring rapid and safe disposal of contaminated equipment.
Unfortunately, we still need to puncture our way through the skin to take blood, insert cannulas, deliver intramuscular injections and access a multitude of bodily cavities.
risk of infection.
In most cases the actual risk of transmission of a blood borne pathogen following a needle-stick is extremely low. The most commonly transmissible diseases of concern to nurses are the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV).
Hepatitis B: Of these HBV is the most transmissible, with a risk of infection following exposure of around 6-30%. (Staff that have achieved immunity after being covered with the hepatitis B vaccine are practically immune.)
Hepatitis C: Infection from HCV following a needle-stick is around 1.8%.
HIV: Risk of becoming infected with HIV is a mere 0.3%.
Of course the chance of transmission occurring is dependent of several factors including:
The viral load of the source person at the time of transmission.
The volume of infected blood transferred.
universal precautions:
Always observe universal precautions. If you practice nothing else, practice this: every single patient you look after is HIV positive, is oozing with Hepatitis, Syphilis, and crawling with MRSA.
Got that? Now protect yourself accordingly:
- Wash your hands. Before and after any intervention.
- Gloves, and eye protection, without exception.
- Use safety needles and cannulas. If your hospital is not using some form of safety cannula, you should definitely throw a big tantrum.
- Needles should go directly from patient into sharps bin in one motion. Never leave a sharp laying around to take care of *in just a second*.
- Never, ever try to re-sheath or re-cap a needle.
- 100% attention when handling sharps.
- 200% attention when handling butterfly needles. They are springy little buggers and will flick around and bite you given half a chance.
Once bitten:
If you do experience a needle stick injury, immediately wash the site well with water. Squeezing or milking the site is of little benefit.
You should then activate your own hospitals policy for post occupational exposure management.
Remember, the risk of transmission is determined by the type of exposure rather than the patients risk factors.
You and your patient will probably both need blood taken for serological testing for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and HIV as soon as possible.
Depending on your immunization status you may need to have a course of HBV vaccine and a dose of hep B immunoglobulin.
If a significant exposure to HIV has occurred, retroviral drug prophylaxis should be offered promptly. Use of such post exposure prophylaxis is not to be treated lightly and expert guidance should be sought. Read up on your own hospitals policy.
needle and the damage done:
Having the statistics on your side does not lessen the anguish of sustaining a needle-stick injury.
I remember several years ago (before we had safety cannula’s) a member of our staff was stabbed in the palm with a large trocar needle as she was collecting up a pile of rubbish left on an IV trolley. At that time we had an HIV positive patient on the ward who had recently been cannulated. No one knew if this was the needle used on him.
Everything turned out OK, but the mental stress placed on this nurse was significant.
No matter how low-risk the needle stick injury may have been it may still cause you significant distress. If this is the case you should seek professional counselling.
impactEDnurse is also known as Ian Miller, a nurse with over 26 years experience working in a busy emergency department in, Australia. This site in no way reflects the opinions of that hospital.
All stories (although based on actual experiences) have been changed to protect patient confidentiality.
Email this author | All posts by impactEDnurse
Thank you for this. When I was a brandy-new tech in my ER (about 5 months on the job), 3 days before my vacation, I stuck myself with a butterfly I had just used on a 40-ish patient admitted with fever of unknown origin. I cried for the first day, and was sick as a dog for the next 5 days on the prophylactic cocktail. The patient was perfectly willing to submit to testing, and signed waivers allowing doctors to inform me of results. Happily all turned out well, though it did cloud the start of my trip. It also made me one of the loudest proponents of safety and protection in the ER.
Hi Ian,
Great post, as usual. Your breadth of knowledge is astounding. I offer two suggestions. Universal Precautions are sooo last year (or a bit more). We in the Infection Control game here in Australia (and many other countries) have adopted Standard Precautions to replace Universal Precautions. The short reason being that universal precautions were aimed soley at protecting staff from blood borne viruses (BBV’s) whilst Standard Precautions are broadly to protect staff and patients from various transmissible diseases including BBV’s. Squeezing/milking the site is not only of little benefit but there is some literature that suggests this may increase the risk of transmission by stimulating blood flow to the effected area and enhancing the transmission. I support your call to have a tantrum if your health service does not use safety cannulae, needles, butterflies and syringes. In fact I suggest that staff should rant and rave as loudly as possible as it is their health at risk. Some pointers to help: get more people involved, there is definately safety in numbers and it lowers the work required by one person. Enlist the support of your Staff Health and Infection Control departments (they should be leading the charge but everyone is busy and we choose the fights we think we can win) and finally look for outside help. Most states in Australia have a WorkSafe or equivalant government agency tasked with making sure we all get home from work in one piece, use their resources and ask them for money, after all it is their job!
I also recommend that if you are unfortunate enough to get stuck and you are seeking counselling (highly recommended as Ian said) consider getting counselling also for your intimate partener particulalry if you have to start anti retrovirals, I have seen more than one couple split due to needlestick injuries and it shouldn’t happen.
Cheers Matt
In the prehospital environment (I’m a paramedic), it goes even further. I’ve had a few patients take great offense when I glove up to touch them. Unlike many nurses, and many more doctors, I absolutely do not render any sort of care without gloves at a minimum. It could be taking a BP. Gloves.
Had a patient with ringworm and skin mites. The nurse shot me an angry glance when I told her that gloves were a good idea as we transferred our patient to the hospital bed. She shrugged, thinking probably, “Paranoid paramedics.” But my partner grabbed her arm before she could touch the patient, pointing out the large pieces of skin falling off him and the raised, red skin and missing hair on his forehead. She gloved up after that.
A few other things:
The things that you presume the most innocent are those most likely to poke you. I don’t know many paramedics stuck by IV caths. But I can tell you several stories of medics stuck by lancets for blood glucose testing. And we use a little push-button lancet. Those are particularly insidious. They’re angled, really sharp, relatively wide, and have much more surface area than a needle — meaning they can hold a good amount of blood and tissue on them.
Hands in dark places. If you’re sticking your hands into places you can’t see, you’re going to get stuck sooner or later. In my work, it’s more common than in the ED. But lets say a patient involved in a car accident is taken to the ED. Sticking hands under the patient is dangerous. There’s any amount of glass or pointy things sitting under that backboard waiting for your hands as you explore under the patient.
For ambulance equipment in particular, I have policy to never touch anything in the back of the truck without gloves unless I’ve personally cleaned it extensively. There’s so much dried gunk on all the little knobs, recessed handles, undersides of ambulance cots, etc. that you can’t take the chance. HIV is pretty fragile outside the body, but the Hep family survives for quite a long time on non-porous surfaces. I don’t know how many days, but certainly for a 12 hour shift. The chance of exposure is slim, but is that a chance worth taking when simple precautions are warranted?
As for gloves, latex gloves offer good protection. But few places have latex anymore. Many use cheap PVC or vinyl gloves. Some have cloroprene or nitrile gloves. If you can press for it, a good quality nitrile glove seems to offer excellent resistance to tearing in demanding environments. Gloves that have an extended cuff length, like the Kimberly Clark Purple Nitrile XTRA have a 12″ cuff instead of the usual 8″ or 9″ cuff that is common. It’s not going to do much for needle sticks, but it will help with fluids and keeping things like a wrist watch covered more easily.
My partcular Bugbear is toward people who don’t use an absorbent sheet while cannulating. Usually done by people who aren’t as good at it as they think they are, or poorly trained in the task (sorry Jnr RMO’s… main culprits)…but could be anyone.It’s so easy to use a dressing pack. It give you a sterile field for your open IV Bungs, An absorbent sheet, and gauze to help you clean up any spills. Theres no chance of getting blood over (and under)the lift-up hand rails and bed, and limits the risk of your patient getting bacteremia from somewhere dirty you left your uncapped Bung.
I Hate blood on my hands from a Handrail post cannulation.
I also would like to post a question. My boyfriend is working as a doctor in a small village. Sometimes he has to rush people into the hospital, which is 1 hr away. We got back together after a 3 yr break. We both had one relationship so we decided to take an hiv and hepatitis test and we are both fine. Today he told me that he “managed to” poke himself about 5 times since he started practising last yr, but only one time so deep that his blod shread. He knows I used to have hiv fobia when I was younger and I may still worry too much when I hear about things like this, but i don’t think about these things normally at all anymore. He says the chances are soo low and I am overreacting. I dont want this to ruin the relationship, but it is not nice to think that he is exposed to diseases like this quite often. I could not discuss it with him because he ended the conversation that I worry too much because i used to have this phobia. Pls advise if I should just take it easy as there is nothing to worry about. The cases here are very low.
I just recently obtained my first needle-stick injury. I was so upset that I went to my boss and said that I just got poked and that I needed to seek medical attention. My boss was not very supportive and said that I should not worry about it and just put a bandage on it. The problem that I was having was that I did not know which patient’s needle it was. My boss then called me back stating that I could go to the hospital if I wanted but I had to find my own replacement for my shift, to boot she states that this happens to nurses every day and they do not worry about this at all. I was already working extremely short and was stressed over 50 other things. I really feel that work places need to be more involved and supportive of the people that try and save other people’s lives and not be so unsupportive to those who may be trying to protect their lives and the people they love around them.
Hi there… i am dong some reading about needle stick injuries in order to best advise the medical students whom I send into rural areas for prac…. we are considering the poaaibility of needing antivaral drug in remote areas in case of an injury….. have you ever come across someone needing antiviral Rx??
do yo know of any stats on it’s effectiveness…
just got my first needle stick today, pt came to the floor for having cellulitis due to meth use. he is known to have hep C, active or not I don’t know. he wouldn’t sign a consent to test his blood. the hospital I work has been good so far in taking my blood and treating the situation seriously. I didn’t think it would bother me like it is, but here I am trying to look up info late at night by myself.
I’m so sorry that happened to you millhouse. I’m an esthetician and got stuck today for my first time. I had gloves on but I lost my grip on the tiny lancet I was using to perform extractions. It kinda slipped, turned around and stuck me right in the thumb through my vinyl gloves. I didn’t want to say anything at first, but I had to because I was so freaked out, so I was honest with her and told her what just happened and asked her if everything was OK with her. She assured me and said she didn’t have any diseases and had in fact just had an AIDS test within the past year. Still(obviously) I’m still freaked out and hoping my odds are next to zero for any kind of infection. I admire any health care professional who literally puts their life on the front lines every day. My thoughts are with all of you. Just try to stay calm and know the risk is low.
Thank you all for sharing your incredibly moving experiences. It is a powerful conversation.
All I can say is that the chance is very small and the fear is very large and we need each other to understand the difference.
I was stuck 2 weeks ago by a Dental “Explorer” in the finger, the instrument was bloody, as it had been used during an extraction. The instrument had been sitting the a basket for an hour and thirty minutes prior to me being stuck. I also had on Vinyl, clean gloves. The inmate (I work in a prison) was tested and has HEP A, Hep.B, Hep. C and HIV. I know it says the percent is low with Needlesticks but I wonder what the percent of catching this is with an instrument that is solid like an explorer, not hollow like a needle. I would love to hear feed back from others stuck with a solid instrument…
last week I worked on my second patient on the clinic floor, and she was HIV. status known…I followed standard precautions, however as I explored the occlusal tops of her teeth, I for some reason flipped the instrument around and accidentally poked my self in the hand. looking down right away I did not see a torn slit in my glove and continued to work on her. two hours later I removed my glove, washed my hands and my hand burned. I could see a slight red mark….not sure what to do, I went home..cried and was basically up all night, went back into school the next day and told my instructors. After class I went immediately to the emergency and was checked by several doctors. They said my exposure was minimal and that I didnt require the antibody cocktail…I was tested for Hiv and Hepatitis and waiting out the three months to be retested is killing me……I know my risks are slight, but it provokes such a deep fear inside of you after it happens….
I know exactly what you are going through. Has the Patient been tested for any of the Hep’s. If not, I would suggest getting her to sign a release and get her to be tested. I have found that alot of the Inmates (I work in a prison) we work on, if they have Hep. C they usually also have HIV or Vise versa. The inmate I was working on knew he had Hep C and had disclosed it on his health questionaire but answered “NO” to having HIV. He later consented to be tested although he said he was tested 3 months prior while in jail, He came back positive for HIV as well as Hep A and B.(and C) He did not know he had any of these. Also something else. Request a Hep A vaccination. I did not know that vaccination existed. (I only knew of Hep B) so I now have received the vaccination. I have done so much research on this now and I still have alot of fear of getting this. I had my 4 weeks blood draw last week and I am waiting the results any day. Also, the no unprotected sex for a year, sucks!!! Hang in there, your nerves will settle to a bearable state. Mine have gotten better. I am not crying everyday now at least. Keep me posted, I will be praying for you. Don’t let this change your career plans, I questioned mine at first, but there are risks with everything. You could get in a car wreck on your way to work tomorrow but you don’t stop driving.
i am a nursing student on placement in a home, i just had a needle stick injury this morning, i have being so terrified, but this is sch a relief, i havnt being able to go to the occupational health yet, because they not open unitl next week. i am having to wait for 4 days to see them. but am trying not to thinking about it. thanks for the note. am encouraged now.
They should have sent you to the Emergency Room immediately so you could start the HIV anti-viral meds if you wanted to.
I have just had my 4 week blood check and all was neg. I am so relieved until the next check in May.
Hang in there, you are not alone. And don’t let other people down play the seriousness of your situation. I don’t think people understand the fear until it happens to them. Everyone just says, “Oh, it’s such a small risk, your never gonna catch that stuff, don’t worry about it.” But it’s not them that will have some terminal disease either!
Hang in there!! KJ.
I was just poked yestersay by a 23 guage butterfly needle after attepmting to close the safety cap. I knew that the patient had previously been incarcerated and i just started crying my eyes out. O kept saying to my self y couldnt this have happened to the little old lady next door over it had to happened to the worst possible patient on my floor. I went to ed right away i washed my hand thoroghly and alcoholed my finger. The patient consented to be tested for hiv and after waiting the longest hour ofmy life his test turned out positive! I thought I was going to die, in fact i have still ben crying all day. The doctor assured me that he didnt tihnk he had full blown aids and he looked relatively healthy and since the needle was so small and it was a shallow wound and I bled that my chance we about 1 and 1000. I started taking the PEP proholactic drugs and ive already lost 6 pounds they make u so sick… I have to wait 6 more weeks to find any thing out i am just a mess and my mind is everywhere but here. It has to be the most terrifying thing that I have ever gone through…
Hey im a tattooist an have been for 7 years ..I have been vacinated for hep b when i was in high school. I have sustained 3 pokes through a glove . What are my chances of catching anything being that tattoo needles are solid bore. Im so stressed it makes me almost want to quit.
Everyone – thank you, your posts have been a huge help. My partner is on the other side of the world with work and stood on a needle in Hawaii three days ago. I’ve been trying to be supportive and positive. He’s so worried, and so am I. I’m just trying to read as much as I can about the risks of contracting HIV; he has had all the available vaccinations, but the doctor says there is still a risk and he will need to be tested in 3 months – what a wait… My thoughts and prayers are with those worried and waiting on results as well.
Hi,
Just to share my experience. I am a forensic scientist and I routinely am involved in performing post-mortems (autopsies). I sustained a needle stick injury about 12 months ago (closed bore needle)while working on a case that was Hep C positive. I definitely had my own little freak out following this at the thought of contracting Hep C. I had all of my follow up blood tests and was in the clear (thankfully). The stats I was given at the time regarding contracting the ‘big three’ infectious diseases following a neddlestick injury were :
Hep B – 3-30% Hep C – 1.3% and HIV – 0.3% chance of contracting the disease following exposure.
Unfortunately I had another needle stick injury again 2 days ago and as my luck would have it, they were Hep C + also, so know I have another 6 weeks to wait to be tested again!
My thoughts go out to every-one else waiting on test results and I hope they all come out ok.
I was poked today with a suture needle. Pt (inmate) is positive for Hep C and is not being treated for it as he thinks it is a Bad Force in his body. Waiting results of his HIV test. Its extremely scary.
Well an other similar story. I’m a RN. I work on the IV team in a big hospital so you can imagine how many needles I go through in a day… We use the safe step needle in my hospital but I manage to poke myself after inserting a canula in a patient. Not very lucky the patient is a IVDU (IV drug user) known Hep C+. It couldn’t have happened on an older grandma… We did a STAT HIV test on the patient (without his conscent) as he was inconscious and thanksfully he was negative. At this point I’m in the same boat as most of you guys and I’m going through those periodic blood tests and I keep my finger cross. Styve
I was stuck by a 20 guage needle last week from a hep C+ patient. So, I’m in the same boat with the rest of you with the worry and stress. I was wondering if anyone started any medications prior to even testing positive yourself. Our hospital has something (see employee health tomorrow) to start. I’ve never heard of this and can’t find literature to support starting medication. My thoughts and prayers are will all of you.
Hi..I am a nursing student and just got stuck the other night. The sharps container was full, but being short I didnt realize it. I didnt report it because I thought that I would get in trouble. We are doing a preceptorship and I am afraid of getting a critical incident. I know that it is the hospitals fault for not discarding the sharps container, but I just feel stupid. I did have the Hep B vaccine, it is the Hep C and HIV that I am worried about. Anyone could have dumped those needles in that container.
Last night I stepped on a insulin needle of a friend who was staying over at my home. He carelessy left it on the floor and I stepped on it. I’m not sure if the needle penetrated my skin or not. The needle itself is odd looking, small like a thumbtack and enclosed in a small plastic covering. I’m sure most are aware of those small needles that diabetics (for type 2) use. Any comments on my chances of contracting anything based on how it happened and what I should do?
I was stuck by a dental explorer in Jan. that was used on an inmate that was Hep. A, B, C and HIV positive. I have been told by my treating DR. that I had a better chance of winning the lottery than contracting anything because it was a solid instrument, I had on clean gloves, and the instrument had been sitting out for over an hour when I got stuck. I had my 2nd round of test last week and I am now Hep. C positive! So, Dr.’s don’t know everything. This has rocked my world. On the positive side, my Dr. said this was the first case he has ever had turn positive in his career from a needle stick.
I am a nursing student that is always careful about disposal of sharps, but one month ago while disposing of a needle I had just use to help take the glucoe level of a HIV+ patient the needle stuck me. Immediately I took of the gloves wash the area and sqeeze it to see if it will bleed but it didnt, I inspected the area there was no swelling or signs of bruising but I knew I felt something. I was immediately place on antiretrovirals which I discontinued after about three days because I cant manage the side effects. My HIV results are negative now but in three months time what will they be? Its killing me inside, I just want three months to come so I can retake the test to know if I have it.
i am a registered nurse in the caribbean i got stuck with a small bore needle on my thumb early sunday mornin at work(4days ago)the pt is hiv positive viral load is high it was through a glove on first glance there was no bleedin but i sueezed it and wash it with soap and water and pass spirit swabs on it i went to er started my prophalysis course on antiretroviral which have me very ill i have to get my first retestin in 6 weeks time a bit fearful epescially when i speak with my freinds however i am trustin in God who knows all, that all will be well
In reply to Jess back in April;
“The stats I was given at the time regarding contracting the ‘big three’ infectious diseases following a neddlestick injury were :
Hep B – 3-30% Hep C – 1.3% and HIV – 0.3% chance of contracting the disease following exposure.”
Do these stats refer to a exposure of contaminated blood or just needlestick injuries in general?
I am looking for some data to cling onto. I was walking my dog and she picked up a burger wrapper. I pulled out the wrapper only to find that it had a needle wrapped in it. So I am not a nurse but I can’t find any other forum. This is really helpful.
Hello, it’s me again, the dental assistant who got stuck in Jan by an inmate who tested positive for HIV, Hep A,B, &C. In May I was told my Hep C. test was now positive and I had a viral load of 329. I was told by my primary Dr. that I had hep c, there was no cure for it and since it was not his specialty he referred me to a Hepatologist at our University Teaching Hospital. Because of the rareness of my case the Dr. that is the Director of Research was interested in my case. He told me there was a 50% chance my body could fight the Hep C. because of the small amount of blood I was infected with. They wanted to test my blood again, (insist on an RNA test that looks for the virus itself) if it came back with any viral load at all I would have to start Hep. C treatment right away while I had such a low viral load. The treatment would be for 6 months and I would have a 90% chance of the treatment curing me of the disease, if then I still had it after this treatment then I would loose my chance of a cure and would be considered to have chronic Hep. C. My viral load came back ZERO!! I thank God for curing me because it had to be his miracle that did it!…. So pray!!! I will be in prayer for each of you that have posted on this site. Hang in there! It has been weeks since I tested Zero and I go back Friday for a re-check just to confirm the results and I have also consented to letting them do research on my case. God Bless Each of You!! It does get better as time goes. And know that the Aids virus is the weakest virus of them all and takes quite a bit of blood exposure to contract it. Or at least that is what this specialist has told me. So far, 5 months in to this, my Hiv test is neg. and my viral load is zero. Insist on the Viral Load Test… It is more accurate and shows up sooner. It cost more so they don’t volunteer to do it but I insisted on it and they agreed!
My fiance is a dental assistant and got a needlestick injury the other day.
Are we able to ask the patient to be tested for Hep B, Hep C and HIV? We work in New South Wales Australia and are uncertain about the laws?
Thanks
Does Australia have the Hippa laws like the U.S.?
Lucky for me, I work in a prison and had the inmates chart in my care when the stick occured. The inmate was told what had happened and immediatley agreed to have any test done that I needed. It was already known he had Hep. C. but through other testing he found out he had Hep A & B as well as HIV. My stick my have extended his life, now is he getting treatment for the Hep C. and HIV.
I would hope if she explaines to the patient what happened they would agree. Make sure they are aware they are not in any way resposible or liable for your injury, some people are concerened with been sued, therefore afraid to consent.
Like everyone i had a horrible experience too. I was poked by a lancet needle today. First thing I did was milked out the blood and wash my index under the sink for good time. At first I was afraid to say something because i felt like it was my fault for being the clumsy. However, I did went to my supervisor and it got dramatic and then I got discourage to go the clinic because of my co-worker telling me it’s no big deal and the chances are low and I’ll probably have to wait a really long time at the clinic. Note: don’t listen to anyone but your gut and get test just for the sake of it. From now on, I’m really going to be careful and hope I’m clean. I don’t want to be worry throughout my life. I enjoy being a nurse and helping other and I have a feeling I’ll continue to encounter situation like this. To everyone with similar situation I hope you the best.
i ma not a nurse but can not find any other place to have my questions answered. i am a IVDU and a little over 3 days ago i used a needle,water and spoon of someone who is hiv+ the needle i used had been sitting in a drawer uncapped (the orange cap on the tip) for at least 20 minutes but i suspect it was there longer as it had dried blood on the tip close to where the barrell is. the needle looked like it had been rinsed out with water at least one after its use becuase it did not appear to have any blood in the barrel. i then rinsed the needle with water about 3 times at least before i used it and wiped off the tip with a paper towel and no blood got on the towel so im pretty sure the blood was dried. i might have used contaminated water as well but i coked the spoon and water and cotton i used. could me cooking te water until smoke came off the top and started boiling kill any hiv in the water spoon or cotton? ( the spoon had not been used for at least 20 mins so air def. got to it) i found out about 24 hours after this happened that the person was hiv+ i imead. started looking stuff up ad found out about the PEP meds and got teh the hospital to take them. i started taking then about 60 hours after the exposue. i know i am great risk for being exposed to it but does anyone know if me rinsing the needle before use, cooking the water and spoon, he fact the needle had been sitting out int he air uncapped ( im not sure if air can get inside the tiny hole on the tip of the needle to help dry out the inside of the needle) cold me drawing boiling hot water up into the needle killed any hiv left in the barrel or tip? does anyone know how effective the PEP meds are after 48 hours of exposure? i pray that i can come out of this clean and after this incident i am never touching a needle again, or shooting up any drugs. i am currently in a methadone program and have been clean for some time and relapsed this one time. i never used to share needles and this is the only time i had and i was stupid to trust the person when thy said they were clean. if i coem out negative after all of this this might have been a blessing in disguise to scare me enough ot stop using drugs permenatly. i pray for all the nurses and doctors that care for IVDU’s and put themselves at risk. after reading all of these enteries it really hit home as to what i have been doing and howi am not only putting myself at risk but the people who try and save my life. any suggestions or advice or if anyone knows if anythign i did could have lowered my risk of getting hiv before i took the meds would be great. this waiting time to get tested is the hardest thing i have ever dealt with.
I certainly hope you have learned something from this and after you find out you are okay you don’t forget and go back to your old ways. As for the HIV. It is a very weak virus and it is very easily killed with hot water, soap, etc. Also the virus can only live outside the body for 20 minutes. And HIV usually, not always, shows up with in the first 3-4 months. But, most people who have HIV also have Hepatitis C and don’t know it because it can take years to cause enough liver damange to have considerable symptoms. Hep. C is spread the same way and is alot easy to catch because it is a very strong virus. It can live on a surface for 2 weeks and is not easily killed. So I would suggest being tested for that as well. The inmate I was infected with had HIV and HEP. C and was a drug user. He did not know he had all of this. I would think that the length of time it sat out as well as the different things you did to clean it you have a very good chance of being fine. I was told I had a better chance of winning the lottery than catching HEP C. but I caught it anyway, to the dr’s shock. I have been tested now for 7 months and I am clear on the HIV…. Good luck but before you put anymore drugs in your body, think about the risk you have now put yourself in as well as every health care worker that ever works on you the rest of your life. Your actions could one day infect an innocent person who is just doing their job. Please think about this and better you life even when this turns out okay!….. Oh, and don’t have sex with anyone until you have been tested for one year and cleared. At least inform the person of what you are going through and let them make the choice if they want to chance having PROTECTED sex with you. Don’t put someone else through this.
I got stuck with a needle after taking blood from an 80 yr old woman.Hiv rapid test was done on the patient and results were negative.I am still worried….am i over reacting?Should i worry much?I only took PEP until i got the patients results, should i re test?
I posted awhile ago, as i have been stuck by a tattoo 3 times in the past…They are solid bore. Does anyone have any insight on this considering i work in the community setting not in a hospital.
Hey everyone. Thanks for sharing. I went to pull the sheath on the syringe over the insulin needle and my hand slipped up it, nicking 2 spots before puncturing my index finger. 3 portals of entry x 1.8. Nervous. I should get my HCV-RNA results in the next few days. Wish me luck. And pay 110% attention when dealing with those sharp lil guys.
hi. i’m a student who just got a first needle stick injury while taking the ABG of an ex-drug addict who’ve stopped for 6 years. he’s of unknown status for HIV/ Hep B and C. I’m so sure i was poked, i filled the gloves with water. sure enough a stream came out at the exact place. before i washed my hands, i checked whether any blood came out. there wasn’t. Anyhow, i’m really terrified. we did a rapid test on the guy. it was negative but then again there’s always chance of false negative right? so we send the guy for HIV/Hep B and C serology. the results wont be back for l ike 4-5 days. Now I’m praying really hard that his results are negative. but then again there’s viral load issue. I guess for now i can only pray hard and wait another 6 months or so to check my status. Wish me luck and please be careful in handling those needles. my experience is bad enough, i really hope no one else have to undergo similar distress.
Hi i’m a dental assistant and I was poked today from an older man in his 70’s. We were removing a tooth and he needed more anesthetic, it slipped and stabbed me in the pointer finger. It bruised instantly. The man has had multiple heart bipasses. I never told the patient. I’m very scarred, but his medical history had nothing. My finger is sore and Bruised is this normal?
pricked my finger with my own needle after extracting fluid from my abdomen, the fluid is due to me placing a hot water bottle which caused me to get a welt. so i extracted the fliud went back to cover the needle stuck me. i know that was so dumb of i know better
Hi guys, I am a Registered Nurse in Australia and have been lucky enough to never have a needlestick injury at work. But 6 days ago I was in a carpark and stepped on a needle. It went through my shoe and penetrated my foot. If I wasn’t a nurse I probably wouldn’t have even known what sort of needle it was. Odds are good since it was the broken off tip with no evidence of any syringe.So if an IVDUser had been using it, the exposure to the environment should have killed most viruses. I was more prepared for a needlestick at work – not in my day to day life. So, now I have the long wait… even though I am pretty sure I will be all clear. Having to live like I am infectious is really messing me up. Horrible having to protect my hubby and kids just in case. My heart goes out to all of you waiting like me. x
Hi all, my heart goes out to you all how have to go through this terrible situation! I have been pricked 4 time in my career, all coming back negative thankfuly! But today, it happened again, after extracting a tooth from a lovely lady patient i was washing the bloody instruments and pricked my finger! I beld it and washed it straight away. The patient wil have a blood test with in the wk, she says she is clear but who knows! I think i am at very low risk but just need some reasurance.
the positives are…
Solid instrument
Went though glove before my finger
shallow prick
low risk patient 50yr old married 2 kids, presents herself very well.
Bled the wound
Chances are still low.
this website has helped so much, hope i can sleep tonight. It is the worst feeling and I pray for everyone who has to go through this. It makes u wonder if jobs that expose u to this are really worth it? If someone could write back to me to let me know what they think about my situation that would be wonderful. Thank u all so much for sharing. Best of luck to everyone xoxo
i just had a needlestick incident two weeks ago, and i’m freaked out as can be. my patient is HIV positive (with undetectable viral loads), and hep C negative. my stick was when i was suturing up an extraction site, so it was with a small, solid bore needle through my glove, but i was bleeding nonetheless. i was put on antivirals same day (and puked for a week…what a way to lose weight!), and will be for the next 28 days. While i know the chances of getting HIV are low, like 0.3%, i’m so scared, since i don’t know if i’m getting HIV…or if its a side effect of the meds, but i’m developing some small rashes on my torso (flat, eczema like ones, called maculopapular). i’ve looked it up, and it could be a side effect of the truvada and kaletra meds i’m taking, but it can also be a sign of acute HIV infection (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acute_HIV_infection). have any of you had this side effect from the meds at all?? i’m so freaked out right now from all of this…
HI all I am a PA and I was recently exposed to at the time unknown HIV positive pt. I handled her blood sugar meter without gloves and then rubbed my eye. Stupid I know. It has been about 6 weeks now so I have to wait another 7-10 before getting that first 3 month test. Wish me luck and I wish all of you the best.
First of all I think this is a great site, I feel for you guys and I give my support for everyone who got infected after an accident, it could happen to anyone!
We went on a dental mission trip to a Navajo area in New Mexico to treat poor people who don’t have access to dental treatment.
I was performing a pulpectomy on a 40 y woman who seemed ok, we didn’t have the Sodium Hypochloride solution for irrigation to get ride of the blood and derbies in the pulp canals, so instructors told me to use a dental syringe with local anesthetic and a long needle of gauge 27.
After I finished irrigating, the syringe was sitting on the table for 15 min with the needle 90 degree bent, as I wanted to get something from the table my hand accidentally bumped into the needle and I think I “pinched” or “stuck” my palm with the needle (I didn’t check for a hole through the latex glove), I am not sure about what happened and I felt no pain, in worse cases I think the needle came like 0.5-1mm through the skin, those needles are flexible and they bend when pushed.
When it happened I just ignored it and I carried on with my work, but then later that day I started to think of the possibilities of an infection and I got really anxious, I examined the area and there was no signs of anything!
The next day I went to my instructor and told him about what happened, he told me that whatever happened has happened and now if there was any infection of any sort then I can only relay on my immune system to clear it, he told me he had so many accidents in the past with gloves on and things turned out to be OK eventually. At that night I was trying to simulate the feel of the pinch by wearing a glove and pocking myself with a similar needle, I tried light pinches to stronger sticks and at the strongest attempts blood came out upon squeezing. I think there might have been a 0.5mm penetration with that patient I had the earlier day, but again I am not sure.
Right now it has been a week, I dunno what to do…
Yea. Hey guys, honestly all of you just have faith in God. He giveth and taketh away and today i also poked myself with a lancet i was using to check my Grandpas glucose levels. I wiped rubbing alchol on it but man it worried me for a while unitl i realized theres not much i can do and that going to the hospital to be put on meds which have side affects isnt what i really look forward to. I dont know what my grandpa has besides diabetes but i dont know if he has been checked for anything else either. I will pray for all of you tonight and im glad i found this website today. I dont wish this upon anyone. Im greatful for everyone sharing and just wnat to say again that have faith in the higher power and to manifest good thoughts. Waha Guru! God is Great, God Bless you ALL
I had a needlestick injury b0t 0va a mth ag0 whlst suturing a patients perineum.n she was hiv positive.it takes 4eva t0 gt ur results.n t0 g0 0n dat treatment was awful bt i had t0 d0 it.
Hi, everybody what is a chance of getting infected with HIV after after i stuck my self with insulin needle. actually the guy tested negative for HIV .but i am still worried if the guy has recent infection.
I got tested 6 weeks post exposure, nothing showed up so far, next round will be in July, hopefully it stays the same.
worried/dentalassistant, I have been following your experience, good luck with the Interferon treatment, I am optimistic about the way you are being treated because your numbers are very low and those drugs will eliminate all the pathogens in your blood.
Crossing fingers for you
I am a mother of a two yr old girl. This morning I went to my family physician to get checked for a stomach pain I had the night before. I was laying in bed while my doctor was examining me when my daughter went under the doctor’s desk and found that red box where they put used needles. she put her hand inside and got a needle stick. The doctor saw her and rushed to get her from there. I got up and saw my daughter’s finger bleeding. Before knowing what happened I squeezed all the blood I could get out of her little finger and sanitized it. The doctor told me that they used those needles to give shots to their patients. I didn’t know what to do, so I called my daughter’s pediatrician and spoke to the nurse who asked me to get an incident report. When I asked my doctor for the incident report she said that they didn’t have those forms, that it was not a hospital or something additionally my daughter was my responsibility. I figured that she was panicking, so I asked her to write a statement about what happened exactly. I told her what if that needle was used on someone with hepatitis or HIV. She told me that none of her patients have hepatitis or HIV, and she said that the needles were used to give shots not to draw blood so I should not worry. I left her office and went straight to see my daughter’s pediatrician who recommended getting her tested for HIV and hepatitis. He explained to me that the first test is not the one to worry about as nothing will show right the way. However, he said that my daughter will have to be retested again in six months to know if she got infected with any of those. I took my little girl to the lab and had her blood drawn for testing. I cried my heart out, and I am still crying as I type this message. I looked online for the symptoms I should look out for in the next few weeks and months in case she got infected. What I would like to know is if there is a difference between the needles used to give shots and those to draw blood as far as the risk of infection. What are the chances my baby can get any of those viruses? I can’t stop crying as I look at her innocent face. I am praying she will be fine and all the tests will come out negative. Let me know if you know of a similar case. Thank you!
Hi, Im working for SERCO in Norwich Hospital and I’m sure our managers are not doing enough to prevent staff from needlestic injuries. There are many findings on the floor but even there is a policy in most of the cases needle just go to the yellow bucket and paper work is not done. I’d like to ask all of you who deal with sharps to be careful where You put it because few of people I know suffered a lot of stress after injury.
OMG!!! My heart goes out to all the healthcare workers and you Samia. Your story touched me deeply I hope everything turns out fine with your little girl. My child is 2 as well, so your story sent chills down my spine! I was looking for a job that was “recession proof” so to speak. I figured health care was the best place to work. I was looking up practice Hesi exams on the internet until I came across “Needlestick”. So I googled it and ended up on this page. I was planning to enroll into an RN course, not because I wanted to, but because I felt I had to. Hell I’m having problems accepting the “Swine Flu” right now, why would I venture off into being a nurse? Anyway your words and experiences really have me thinking twice about this profession. That NO work is easy work or good pay. I salute you all! Thanks!
OMG, i thought i was so alone when i got stuck…
yes u guessed it im another victim of sorrow due to a needle stick from a confirmed HIV pt. All the common sense suddenly flys out the window when i happens to you and although you may have been stuck before its dosent quite have the same effect as when you know the source is of a high viral load.
The antiviral sends you spinning and your rationale spirals out of control, I never imagined i would come far away from my loved ones to encounter such a crappy experience with no one to comfort my induced nightmares dizzy spells and consant toilet trips…
oh well!! the cancelling helped to uncover most of my fears and the introduction of the small carring sharps boxes to the bed side is definatly a result!! but i am still alone with continuing reminder of at least the next 6 monthsand then for the rest of my life.
The stats.. as an ever reminder are as low as 0.3% which is good news but im the same as every one else here and i will only breath again once I am cleared….
May God bless us all, as we are all caring individuals who help the poor sick and needy, may we all be cleared and healthy to continue our plight in this difficult life.
Hi everyone. I just got my first needlestick on Sunday June 14, 2009. Thankfully the source patient tested negative for HIV, Hep B and Hep C. I am praying for all of the rest of you who are waiting to have good news.
Hi again, everyone. Brief intro: I’m a nurse and was stuck Sunday morning when the patient moved during an insulin injection. I’ve been a nurse for 15 years and this is the first time this has ever happened.
Even though the source patient tested negative for Hep B, Hep C and HIV, I am still required to go through the 6 month survellience program in my county. I was tested the day of exposure and will be retested at 6 wks, 3 months and 6 months. A test at one year is optional.
Even though the source patient tested negative, I have been advised not to give blood, get pregnant, nurse a baby or have unprotected sex for the next year. This makes sense to me, as the patient could have an infectious disease that is just not showing up in the blood tests yet.
I am curious, though, if others have also been advised the same thing after the source patient tested negative?
Hi again. I see that several people have asked about the risks of infection and if those risks are from a confirmed infected source or from ALL needlestick injuries.
According to the paperwork they gave me at the hospital on Sunday:
Risk of transmission from a needlestick from HIV+ source is 0.3% (3 of out 1000 exposures)
From a mucous membrane exposure from HIV+ source is .09% (9 out of 10,000 exposures)
From Hep-B+ source to non-immunized worker is 6-24% (6-24 out of 100 exposures)
From Hep C+ source is 1-10% (1-10 out of 100 exposures)
So, I imagine the risks to someone like me who was lucky enough to have the source test negative for the Big Three are much lower, but I still intend to follow the guidelines they gave me for the next year. I don’t want to infect another human being, no matter how low the risks might be.
HepB and HepC are very serious diseases and the risk of transmission is much greater than the risk of HIV transmission, but it is the HIV that strikes terror in my heart. I’m sure I am not alone in this.
Hi. i recently started workign as a dental assistant traineeship. i pricked my thumb which bled the other day on a root canal file which is somewhat similar to a needle. it had been in water for a few minutes before i pulled it out and pricked myself. it had not been sterilised yet i was washing it up after the patient haD left. i looke dup the patients health and they had not ticked the box for Hep b etc however they might not just be ticking it. i am really worried, i dont know what to thinkof this? or wher i stand now? also whenever i wash up the dirty instruments eg probes etc after patients ahve used them i cut myself. i get heaps of little scracthes and cuts on me. even if i got the patient i pricked my finger onto get a blood test andit came back negative i could still ahve gotten something from when i scracth/cut myself washing up. i dont know what to do and what this means for me. im worried i will keep cutting myself and am thinking of finding a new job. how ong doi have to wait till i know if i have caught anything and whats this thing about oneyear? please reply im really confused and dont feel as tho im being given the information i need.
I also scratched myself from a scungy metal thing we use to clean the burs with. i ddint notice until the end of the day though and its looks somehow as thoi have bits of metal like splinters caught under my skin. i am veryy concerned as this thing would have had the whole days worth ofpatients germs on it. is this bad im unsure what to thinkof it? please write back
So I had my first (and hopefully only) needlestick about a week ago. I was suturing a laceration on a patient’s head. I had one hand on her head and was injecting the area with lidocaine, 23G needle when she flinched and the needle poked the side of my hand. I’m not sure how “bad” of an exposure it was, but it went through my glove and my hand bled a little. At the time, I was sort of embarrassed and angry with myself for it happening. I am new on the job and didn’t want to tell anyone as I feared the ramifications. I didn’t want to be labeled as “the girl who stuck herself” after only a few days on the job.
I looked at the patient’s records and saw that she had negative HIV, HBV, HCV tests three years before. Made me feel a little better, but a lot can happen in three years. I asked her about different risk factors and she says that she hasn’t had sex with any new partners, no tattoos, no drug use, no blood transfusions. Otherwise, no risk factors for contracting these diseases.
I thought about reporting it to take the PEP drugs, but decided that even if offered I would most likely decline. Although hollow bore, the needle was relatively small and I didn’t think the stick was that bad even though I bled a little bit. It was used to inject rather than draw blood which I’ve heard makes a difference. Also, she didn’t have any risk factors for HIV infection. I looked up the CDC guidlines for PEP drugs and for exposure to an unknown source without risk factors it doesn’t seem like they recommend prophylaxis. I’m not sure that I could tolerate the side effects anyway. Furthermore I’d already been vaccinated for HBV, and there isn’t a whole lot you can do after exposure to HCV.
In retrospect, I realized a lot of the decisions that I made that night were an attempt to make myself feel better about the situation. It would have been much better of me to suck it up and report the incident rather than fear the consequences. I’d rather look for a new job than become infected with HIV. At this point almost a week out, it is too late to change the course anyway other than learn from my mistake. I don’t really think I need to worry too much since the risk of conversion after exposure to a person with known disease is low anyway, but the fact that there is always that possibility terrifies me.
As for now, I’m living as if HIV infected (no unprotected sex, etc.) and waiting until I can get tested. Since I have access to patient information, I know exactly who I cross stuck myself with and have considered contacting her and asking her to get tested, but I’m not even sure that is legal. It would certainly make me feel better though! If I test negative after 3 months I will feel like I’m in the clear and then at 6 months I will consider everything to be okay. After only waiting a week though, the 11 more that I have are going to seem like an eternity.
Until then, I’ve learned my lesson and I’m keeping my fingers crossed.
hey, im in the same situation. Can anyone give me answers? I work at a medical laboratory that runs test for home health agencies and old peoples homes. I was stuck in may twice by needles( stuck on monday and then wednesday,wow) used to pull out blue top tubes ( used for protime testing) from the centrifuge. Let me explain: the blue top tubes are really low so you cant pull them out of the centrifuge, so we use the needles to poke the top soft area and pull them out. The needle never goes all the way through to touch the blood but sometimes there is some dry blood on the soft area. I know my chances of hiv are probably low but i am worried bout all the hep c and b. Also the situation is worse because we use the same needle for all the tubes. so i pretty much have to hope that within the 2 weeks before i got stuck, i did not pull out blue top tubes from hep and hiv+ patients. are my risks of infection lower bacause most of our patients are on coumadin( blood thinners), i alsoheard they give you coumadin if you have hepatitis. i never got tested because i work at a cheap lab with no health insurance. im planning to pay myself and get tested in september….PLEASE PLEASE can someone give me answers because i am freaking out….. i cant think, i have lost weight…..
by the way, funny enough, i started my hep b vaccination for medicall school the thursday before i got stuck but i only got the first shot. does that help.
also, our population is much older,but i dont think that matters though…
I stuck a patient to draw blood but missed the vein,pulled the butterfly needle out and it grazed my arm and it bled,is there a risk of contracting anything from that?
ms3,
I was in an extremely similar situation in April of 2009. I was giving a Lovenox injection to a burn patient and being the inexperienced, foolish nursing student I was (I’ve wised up since then), I got stuck with the needle. It was my own stupid fault because I couldn’t figure out how to activate the safety so I tried to recap the needle and it went through the cap and into my thumb. Anyway, I was too afraid to tell the nurse because I was embarrassed by my mistake and I didn’t want to get in trouble. After it happened though, I went and looked into her medical records and she didn’t have any positive blood tests for HIV, Hep B or Hep C. In fact, she had a pretty clean history altogether.
It’s been about 3 months so I decided I need to get tested since that 3 month window has passed and any diseases/infections should show up. I still haven’t reported it but my question is this: If I get tested and the physician wants to know the reason for the testing, can I get in trouble for never reporting it? I know the risk of contracting the diseases is very low but like everyone else has already said, it doesn’t make you less anxious. I need to get tested because I absolutely need to know that I’m ok but I’m just really worried that I’ll get in trouble for not reporting it when it happened.
If anyone can answer that question I’d really really appreciate it!
We all fuck up, dont be embarrassed, just get the help you need. Lie if you have to, tell the doc you had unprotected sex or some such, your health and peace of mind is more important than what anyone thinks!
I’m sorry to hear all these stories, and I hope for the best outcomes for everyone who is waiting for results, but I thought I’d share my more lighthearted story, hopefully it will give some of you a giggle.
I’m a nurse, and I’ve so far been lucky enough to never have recieved a needstick in my workplace, but way back when, before I’d even contemplated a career in nursing, I was 15 and going for a work experience placement at a research intstitute at a melbourne hospital. 3 days in and I’m learning to extract DNA from the thyroid cells of a rat. I’m using a needle and syringe to mix our liquid samples containing the DNA, by drawing the liquid up the needle and squirting it back into a little plastic test tube. Next thing I know, I’ve accidently hit the botttom of the test tube with the needle tip, and being plastic, the needle has gone straight through the bottom of the tube and into my finger. Of course I freaked out, and my supervisor had to report the injury, although they all assured me that I wasn’t at risk of catching anything. I have to admit though, I was half expecting to sprout a tail or something!
hi i pricked my self with a sewing needle whilst weaving someones hair. now i dont know if i pricked the person i was weaving could i be at risk of HIV?
Hi! Like most of you here, I was also pricked by a needle after giving Intramuscular Injection. I have a complete dose of Hepatitis B immunization 2 years ago, and just 2 months ago I tested reactive to Anti-HBS. I also have high quantity of Anti-HBS 2 months ago.
My question is will I still be infected with Hepatits B after being pricked by a needle today? What are my chances? Thanks! Horns up!
I JUST started phlebotomy classes a month ago and am super concious about needle sticks. Yesterday I was using a butterfly needle with an automatic safety feature (you hit the button while the needle is in the patients arm and it immediately retracts back into the tubing) on a classmate for the first time and everything went fine. After class when I removed my gloves and was washing my hands with soap and water (I do this after every draw, I have severe OCD) and noticed a small red mark on the bottom of my thumb where the finger meets the palm. It wasn’t bleeding, just a small red mark that I had not previously noticed. I never felt a prick, I have an exceptionally low pain threshold so if I poked myself I would have absolutelt felt it. Also, there was no opportunity for me to have pricked myself as I immediately activated the safety button. But I’m freaking out right now, as I said I have very bad OCD and anxiety. There is a chance my cats could have scratched me but I have no clue. My anxieties have me freaking that maybe the needle retracted back like it was supposed to but poked out the other side? Or maybe it has nothing to do with my drawing that night. Can anybody help talk me down from this ledge? Only respond please if you know what your talking about! What should I do??
Im on Combivir for a month, can’t get consent from source patient… I feel like crap taking this medication. I havent been able to eat as much, I feel like vomiting all the time and the mental anguish is killing me but I’m trusting God will keep me no matter what happens. Anyone else taking meds? I need to know what you’ve been able to eat AND KEEP DOWN because I’m running on yogurt and cinnamon raisin bread here..I guess Im not desperate enough to take anti nausea meds yet…
I;m a resp therapist, I recentely was stuck with an infected needle from a patient with HIV positive, although the syringe did not enter the artery n no blood was in the syringe the needle was inside the patient skin n it was contaminated when it hit my skin n made it bleed a lot. I was told by the doctor that the bigger the needle gauge is the lower the risk of contracting the disease. The needle gauge was 23 and i was wearing gloves as well.I was placed immediately on Combivir but have not had any adverse reactions at all to the medication. I’m not angry at the patient but extremely sad. the waiting is the worst part. not knowing if I can beat the odds but I have faith and i’l leave it to God. At the end he will be the one who decides the outcome. I’m a true believer that things happen for a reason and we all need to pray for the best regardless of what religion we chose. It’s only one God who decide everyone destiny.
This has to be one of the most emotionally charged forums I have had the privilage of reading. The diversity of people from IVDU, health proffesionals to children hits the soft spot in the heart that makes you stop breathing for just a short moment. I am an RN in Australia who has worked in many areas of acute health areas of Public hosp. I know the risks. I fear the risks. I respect the risks. But when these unwanted things do happen, it needs all of your inner strength and unwaivering support of the people around you. I have never had a sharp injury but have witnessed it occur (student nurse giving a s/c injection through skcin and into her thumb). I know I am exposed to all sorts of other pathogens in my line of work. I have also been down for the count with swine flu after a patient coughed in my face (I could feel all the individual droplets hit various landmarks on my face, so gross).
The reason for my input is not gloating but reinforcement in confidence. You have one life (unless your religion dictates otherwise) to live to the maximum fulfillment. Discard what you think about what other people will think or judge of you and stick your hand up and seek help fast when exposed. Remember that prevent is always better (and cheaper) than a solution. Peace out and my heart goes out to you all.
Hi guys,
I posted on here in July but nobody has technically answered my question. I’m not going to repeat my own story but I will summarize in a sentence. I accidentally stuck myself with a contaminated needle in April and was too nervous to report it so I never said anything and never got started on prophylactic meds.
This is my question so please please only answer it if you know the correct answer: If I decide to go get tested and the doctor wants to know a reason for the testing, can I get in trouble for not reporting the incident when it happened?
Hello JustaNursingStudent,
I would you encourage you to see your doctor. It is important to remember that it is not the doctor’s role to get you in to trouble. The focus will be on ensuring the appropriate screening tests are conducted and providing you with follow up and support.
It is important to remember that you should report all needlesticks and body fluid exposures. Even if you were not following policy, the organisation has an obligation by law to support you.
Hi,
I was stuck with a dental explorer last week and the patient was Hiv positive with a low viral load, i was sent to an Infectious disease control Dr. right away to start the drug truvada and kalitra.. I have been sooo ill with just the truvada i haven’t even been able to start the 2nd drug.. it has put so much stress on my family.. and i keep feeling like it was my fault, i should have been more careful… I haven’t been able to go back to work yet and i was wondering if the side effects get better over time. i have to take it for at least 4 weeks… i don’t want to be sick for that long… I’m not afraid of contrating one of the diseases because i know that God will take care of me and the patient is being very helpful with the whole cituation.. He has agreed for my dr. to study his case to help me get the right medication… and since he isn’t required by law to do anything its been very helpful.. but when i do return to work i know i will be faced with these type of patients and i don’t know how i should react… i don’t ever want this to happen again….
and to kris,
i have had to resort to reglan, phenergan, and loratab, just to ease the pain… it doesn’t work a whole lot but at least i don’t feel like i’m dying anymore. I didn’t want to resort to drugs but it was sooo bad…
and to the nursing student,
YOU NEED TO GET TESTED! you shouldn’t get in trouble but if you do the risk of not knowing weights out the getting in trouble…
for your own good get tested…
I am so nervous—- about a week and a half ago i stuck myself in the thumb with a 23 gauge butterfly after drawing blood. the pt.had history of IVDU and tested positive for HepC. The infection control nurse said she did not think I should be worried because the stick was so so small thru the glove…it did not bleed but barely broke skin to leave a pinpoint mark of red under the skin for several hours then disappeared. I also used alcohol immediately after the stick, then washed it..They drew My blood immediately in the ER as baseline. I have to wait 12 weeks for a PCR test. I”m soooo nervous! any advice? I am praying every day for protection!!!
Nic and Dental assistant/ga,
Thank you sooo much for answering my question. I know better than to not report needlesticks but I was nervous at the time. If I ever have a needlestick again (which I probably will some time in my nursing career), I’ll definitely report it immediately and take the appropriate course of treatment. I’ve learned from my mistake. Thanks again!
Just got my first needle stick today. I just started work at a long term care facility and the equipment they use is very out of date. anyway i was giving someone insulin, and you have to recap the needle, as i did, the needle actually came through the cap and poked me. My boss is being very supportive. It was great to read all these stories and know im not alone, it sure is scary though…
I got my first needle stick Thursday this last week after giving my patient her insulin, She has a known history of drug use. After going to the ER and spending two hours waiting I find out that both of our HIV tests were negative. Thank God! Then later that night at home got a call from the employee health nurse to inform me that the pt tested positive for Hep C. They were going to tell her the following morning and then draw a viral load on her to see the how much of the virus she has. I will be tested again in 9 weeks instead of the standard 12. They will not be able to perform the viral load test til this Thursday or Friday because it is such a expensive test that they only do one day a week.. So, the stress will be here for awhile. I did some research and found that if you are going to convert to hep c then it happens within the first 8 weeks.
just found out today the pt that i got my needles stick from had a positive viral load of 300,000. the infectious disease dr told me that was a low number, however “positive”. so now i have 5 weeks to wait on my test than another 6 weeks after that. than the one at 6 months and 12. very stressed out mentally. i hope all works out. not really wanting to go on interferon treatments with the affect it will have on my system.
Thanks for all the input, helps relieve my mind. I am a nurse and stuck myself with a needle last night after administering insulin to a patient. I ha worked 32 hours in two days with several emergencies to deal with and was completely exhausted. After administering the insulin I pulled the saftely plunger over the needle and slipped, got myself right on the end of the finger. My boss was VERY unsupportive, made me feel bad for what happened. Stated that she can get into trouble if this is turned in under workmans comp. Luckily I am an army wife and am gettin ready to go to the ER today to figure out what I need to do….
I got stuck by a 22G butterfly by a pt. with Klebsiella, Gram negative rods, and + blood cultures.
What are my chances?
lisa, your boss should have sent you straight to get labs done. there is a protocol that your employer is supposed to follow up and yes since you are on the job it is workmans comp whether she likes it or not. they need to test the patient and you for hiv and do a hepatitis panel. if the patient tests positive for hiv they would start you on antivirals immediately. having this done saves you in the long run. because say you test positive later for one of these virus’s then workmans comp covers treatment to you. i hope you go and fill an incident report out today and go to your er to have the work up done. hopefully that pt is still in the hospital so they can run labs on them also.
I got stuck by unused needle on previously used insulin pen. No insulin was injected into me. It was just a needle stick. Should I worry about contracting something from the patient if he is not a known drug user and was in a monogamous relationship until recently?.. this gentleman is 69 years old.
HEY ALL!!! i am just browsing the site reading different people’s situations, because my husband got stuck with a needle today @ work. We are both in health care, and I know accidents happen and all, but I am just so mad at the situation. So…After reading through these I do have a few concerns and comments that I need to get off my chest (for everybody/whoever/random people)…
1. Where are you working where after a stick from a contaminated needle do you need PERMISSION from the pt for them to be tested for infectious disease??? I’ve personally never heard of that. And I think it’s ridiculous.
2. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE IF YOU GET NOTHING ELSE FROM THIS SITE GET THIS:
NEVER RECAP OR RESHEATH A NEEDLE!!!!!!! PLEASE! NEVER NEVER EVER!
I don’t care where you are, what you do, what type of needle is is. DO NOT RECAP A NEEDLE! Immediately, go to a sharps box/container and dispose of it! And if you are in a crowded room with lots of chaos going on… LIFT THE DIRTY NEEDLE ABOVE YOUR HEAD, ANNOUNCE YOU HAVE A DIRTY NEEDLE, AND DISPOSE OF IT IMMEDIATELY. I’m not kidding. This sounds silly, but crowded rooms (emergency, trauma, surgery, etc) are a stick waiting to happen. If you hold the needle up in the air above everybody it is out of harms way and nobody will ACCIDENTALLY get stuck.
3. Those of you on this site asking if you should be “concerned”…. you are obviously already concerned about your health and the situation you were in (as you should be!) so I would tell all of you… go to your doctor, get tested. And then… all things normal? GET VACCINATED! HBV (Hepatitis B Virus) is on the rise in the past decade… and there is a vaccine for it!!! This is not warranted! Get vaccinated, protect yourself.
Sorry about my rant, but this is a subject I feel passionately about. Feel free to comment, I will check back with the site in the future to see what’s been said.
6 week post needlestick results were all negative today! will get checked in 6 weeks again. was told by the infectious disease dr that it i havent converted to hep c by now than more than likely wont.
I am a nurse and have been one for 6 years. I just experienced my first needle stick with a HIV ++++ patient. I was trying to start a IV with a 22G needle. I did not get any blood return; however, the site started to rise like I blew the vein. An IV was below it and I was bolusing normal saline and propofol in and that was seem to appear to be coming out of the site I stuck. It was no visible blood on the needle or in the cath. The needle stick was at my left thumb and the site did not start bleeding immediately but I milked the site and washed it with soap and water. I went to the the ER where they started me on combivir and viracept. The next morning they continue with the combivir but started Kaltrea. Of course the medication made me sick and nauseated; however, the symptoms has since eased. I was hoping to find some support because this is the tough experience I have came across. I do not know how to live and laugh now. I am so scared and heartbroken. I pray God heals me; I am afraid to go to work. I want to change careers.
**worried nurse 09** I know how you feel, been in your shoes with a Hep C + patient. just completed my 6 week check up and am waiting for the next six weeks to go by. It was very hard for me to go back to work and continue to use needles on pts. I told my husband that if I contract Hep C then I do not think I am going to do bedside nursing anymore. After 9 1/2 years that was my first needlestick. There are days that is the only thing I think about. Hang in there and make sure you keep up with the follow up testing. Will pray for you that all will be well.
RN thanks for responding; I will keep you lifted in prayer. We are going to bet the odds and rejoice with GOD about the outcome. Please remember God is good!!!! Pls keep me posted; and I will follow through with all follow up appointments for the next year (seems so far away).
Hi I’m an rt and I work in the nicu. I’m not sure if I have had an exposure or not. In a delivery of a known HIV positive mom I was putting bubble cpap on a baby and had slightly bloody gloves on. I went to put the safety pin on the hat and stuck myself in the thumb. Not sure if there was blood in that exact spot of the glove or not. After we got back the to unit I checked my glove and it was intact but the skin underneath was not bleeding but a small white piece of skin was moved. I washed my hands and tried to make it bleed but it did not. I’m not even sure if it was really sore or not because I was messing with. I tried to forget about it b/ c it did not bleed but now after reading some entries on your site I wonder if I should have reported this superficial would or not. This was back in November and I never reported it. Any advice?
Dizzie2010
I would report it because occupational health can be of some assistance to you for testing and covering the cost. I would do a follow up test to be on the safe side and clear up your mind. Because this situation can play on your mind. So go and report it inorder to have a clear mind.
Worried nurse 09,
Thankyou for the advice. I did exactly that the day after I posted that. After being yelled at by the employee health nurse, I earned it,we checked me for everything. My “11 week” post “maybe stick” came out negative for everyrthing. Now to make it until April. I hope everything turns out well for you too.
So while I was cleaning up after suturing today I got stuck in the hand with the needle when the patient moved while I was taking the needle away. The needle penetrated my glove and I noticed some blood on my finger. I washed my hands for 5 minutes and told my superiors. Needless to say they were very empathetic. I had blood drawn as well as she did. I am so worried because the biggest detail of this incidence is that she is a call girl. She denied having anything but how do I know that to be true. I am sooo stressed out and only can hope that everything turns out negative tomorrow. How many times should I get tested after the initial blood draw? Any advice will be helpful!!
PAstudentER-hello, you will need to be checked at six, 12 weeks and every 3 months til a year is up. good luck. going to get my 12 week check either next week or the week after. after you fill out the incident report and your employee health nurse gets it all then they will cover all the labs costs and if needed treatment. I am notified the same day of all the results so they may call you before tomorrow. Will keep you in my prayers.
Dizzie 0210
I figured everything would work out for you; I bet you are glad you went to report it bcause having a clear mind is priceless!
I was weaving someones hair, i felt like I preaked myselft with a needle but when I looked the skin looked intact. the person is hiv+ with low viral load. I m deeply worried, what are my chances of contracting the viraus.
just had my three month post needlestick check and everything is still negative!! will go back in three months.
I have been nursing for 6 years, had my first needle stick yesterday, re-sheathing a butterfly needle, pt has respiratory MRSA, and refused to consent to testing of her blood for hep b or HIV. I am very angry at myself for recapping that needle…I knew better. Scared, worried….and stressed!
rn – when i had my needlestick they didnt give the patient an option, they just told her there was an exposure and they needed to draw her blood. well, just keep getting your tests done and i bet everything will be ok. butterflys are such a small bore needle. will keep you in my prayers.
I had a needlestick injury last week after cannulting a patient in a&e.I didn’t report it because I didn’ttink much of it at the time but as the week went on i started worrying so contacted my university occupational health they told me to come in for a hep b booster (because my immunity levels from vaccination were borderline or something) and has given me a bloods order form for 2 months frm now to be tested for my hep b immunity and my needl stick injury.
Do i still need to report this incident in a&e?, i feel like such an idiot now for not reporting it in the first place that it is making me very hesitant to go back to the department to report it. especially as i have now seen my university occupational health.
any help or advice from you would be greatly appreciated.
Hello Worried Paramedic Student,
You have done the right thing by seeking follow up through your university occupational health unit. In relation to reporting the incident in A & E, yes you should report it. I would talk to the manager quietly and then go from there.
It is important that all clinical units know what the true needlestick incident rate is (no matter who it occurred to). The reason being, is that incident levels and trends should be monitored. If there is a higher rate of incidents in one unit, the organisation has a responsibility to look at the technique used in the unit and the equipment being used.
Reporting it is not about you being in trouble, it is about acknowledging something has happened, ensuring you get the appropriate support and looking at ways of preventing it happen to another clinician.
Good luck and I am sure everything will be fine.
I am an RN in the ER. The other day while working I had a patient with known Hep C. He was a prisoner that was brought to us due to chest pain. He was pretty cooperative upon his arrival, but when I was about to give him his medications (Lovenox and Nitro drip) I asked him his name and birthdate to confirm patient identification. He became agitated at my questions and I became nervous. I gave him the lovenox sub q and forgot to retract the needle. I then walked to the the door and yelled for the police office to get in the room because the patient was becomming agitated. He should have been in the room anyway. I then went to the sharps container and while opening the top of it, I had my back turned towards the patient. While disposing of the sharps in the container, I looked back at the patient to make sure he wasn’t doing anything “funny” and I scratched myself with the needle while disposing of it. I immediately cleaned the area with an alcohol swab as I wasn’t bleeding. After cleaning my finger, I squeezed it and blood came out. I immediately reported it as I am scared to death. The ER doc smiled and said, “I’ve been poked a million times and I never got tested because there’s nothing I can do if I got Hep C anyway.” He reassured me my chances are extremely low of contracting Hep C since it was a small needle and I was injecting rather than drawing blood. His HIV was negative, thankfully!!!! The thought of contracting a disease from this man is horrific! I didn’t even let him know I got stuck because I figured he’d probably gloat as he was pretty upset with me for asking him his name and birthdate. Anyone with a similar story while giving a Sub Q injection? Any positive information would help since I have to wait 3 months to find out anything. Thank you!!!!!!
Hey Everyone. I have a similar story. I am a Nerve Monitoring Tech for surgeons and will be starting med school this fall. While I was removing a EEG head array I stuck myself with a solid bore needle (I believe 23 gauge). It took me a second to determine if the stick had really happened or not, but when I stretched my glove I could see at tiny hole in my glove and a red spot on my finger when the glove was removed. It was not bleeding on its own, but upon milking I was able to squeeze out about a drop of blood (maybe less). I documented this with the hospital and they took blood from the pt which came back + for HCV antibodies, they do not test for viral load so I have no way of knowing whether or not it is an active infection. The anesthesiologist told me that patient’s chart said he had a ‘history’ of viral hepatitis. I am hoping that means the pt had taken care of it since infection and had low if any viral load. I know the stats are on my side but i cant help but to freak out! Got my first blood draw back and its normal… hope that continues! Good luck everyone else.
And errn, my uncle is an ER doc and when I told him about this he said nearly the same thing. I don’t even get tested anymore because it happens so much and there is nothing he can do anyway. he said “a lot of blood is needed for HIV to be spread through a stick and there is nothing you can do about HCV, so don’t worry about it.” Apparently his advice didn’t help all that much seeing as I am still worried out of my mind. haha.
Thank you, Monitor Tech! I hope everything works out for you! It’s nice to know I’m not alone, but I don’t wish this upon anyone. I spoke with our Employee Health Dept today and was told the same thing. Our infectious disease doctor on staff said since there was hardly any blood on the syringe and no visible blood (being it was a Lovenox syringe rather than a venipuncuture needle) that there was almost zero chance of getting HCV. They won’t draw my blood for another 4 weeks. It doesn’t matter to me what they say though. I can’t stop looking at my kids and crying. I’m tired of people saying, “it’s fine! you’re just overreacting!” They obviously haven’t been in my shoes because it’s not fine. I just keep praying to God saying, “every night I pray for my children, husband and family’s health, safety and happiness, but now I’m praying for mine!” I’m so happy your first blood tests were negative. How long has it been since your stick? Please please please keep me posted on your progress, thoughts and fears. I’d like to help ease your mind anyway I can. It’s so funny….this past Friday 2/26, when it happened, I was just happy he didn’t have HIV. The Hep C didn’t even matter to me because I see so many patients with it. THEN….I started internet searching the subject and finding out more things about the disease itself. Each day has gotten harder for me. Reality is setting in that I could actually have this from someone I had never known and just had a bad run-in with. UGH! I’ve questioned my career and have decided that I’m too good at it to stop and I can help everyone I work with (who I also love like family) prevent this kind of injury and upset. I will keep you posted as well on my progress. I’m getting tested at 4-8-12-24 weeks. Hope to hear good news from you soon.
Thank you, Monitor Tech! I hope everything works out for you! It’s nice to know I’m not alone, but I don’t wish this upon anyone. I spoke with our Employee Health Dept today and was told the same thing. Our infectious disease doctor on staff said since there was hardly any blood on the syringe and no visible blood (being it was a Lovenox syringe rather than a venipuncuture needle) that there was almost zero chance of getting HCV. They won’t draw my blood for another 4 weeks. It doesn’t matter to me what they say though. I can’t stop looking at my kids and crying. I’m tired of people saying, “it’s fine! you’re just overreacting!” They obviously haven’t been in my shoes because it’s not fine. I just keep praying to God saying, “every night I pray for my children, husband and family’s health, safety and happiness, but now I’m praying for mine!” I’m so happy your first blood tests were negative. How long has it been since your stick? Please please please keep me posted on your progress, thoughts and fears. I’d like to help ease your mind anyway I can. It’s so funny….this past Friday 2/26, when it happened, I was just happy he didn’t have HIV. The Hep C didn’t even matter to me because I see so many patients with it. THEN….I started internet searching the subject and finding out more things about the disease itself. Each day has gotten harder for me. Reality is setting in that I could actually have this from someone I had never known and just had a bad run-in with. UGH! I’ve questioned my career and have decided that I’m too good at it to stop and I can help everyone I work with (who I also love like family) prevent this kind of injury and upset. I will keep you posted as well on my progress. I’m getting tested at 4-8-12-24 weeks. Hope to hear good news from you soon!
errn– hello, I am assuming that since you spoke with employee health that there was an incident report made out. this ensures that they cover all cost for labs and possible treatment in the future for you. it should be policy to protect you. Don’t let them just get your labs for a year and call it good. Even if you test negative and then later in life something happens and gets traced back to this incident than without the incident report being filed you will have to recourse. I am not trying to scare you in any way, nurse to nurse, just trying to help protect you. I took had my first needlestick in the nine years of being an RN and have been a train wreck. Just had my twelve week check and was negative, my pt was + for hep c which she didnt know about til they tested her after i stuck myself with the insulin syringe. there is treatment for hep c, (interferon) per the infectious disease dr, whom i had to go see since i was freaking out! he reassured me. i think you will be just fine, but i know these are just words to you til you get your results each time! so, i will keep you in my thoughts and prayers! =)
I am not a medical student but I love engaging in medical conversations. It is good that you are all getting tested just to be safe. The medical field is risky but I have a passion for kids and it is my dream and goal to be a pediatrician and these medical entries helped me greatly. I was struck with a needle when walking by a nurse at a hospital and everything turned out okay. I pray that it will turn out okay for you all as well.
Sincerely,
Sarah
Rn, I defiantely reported it right away. My problem with them is, they drew my blood, but didn’t do a Hepatitis panel on my. They did it on the source who tested postive and negative for HIV. I’m concerned at the fact they won’t draw my blood again for 4 weeks. I want it drawn now as a baseline. Should I come back Hep C+ in this course and I wasn’t at baseline, I want to be taken care of should I need time off, medical bills, etc. They have no answer for me as to why they won’t do a baseline. I’m going to speak with them today. How was the severity of your stick? Did it draw blood on you? I’m ok for one minute and just start crying the next. I have to go to work today for 4 hrs and I’m dreading going in. Thank you so much for your support. Good luck to you as well!!!!!
Sincerely,
Kerri
Ok, so EHS did finally do a baseline Hep C panel and it was negative. I’m happy for that. We’ll see what happens at 4 weeks. Our Infectious Disease MD stated that if anyone has a needlestick injury from an infected source, it should be like mine because the risk is so low. It still doesn’t take away the anxiety, stress and fear, but it does ease my mind a bit. Thank you, everyone for your support. I wish everyone well!
Sincerely,
Kerri
errn– hey mine was kinda like yours, not too much blood and the insulin needle went thru my glove and grazed my middle finger. i didnt even know it happened til i took my gloves off. i was like you and just going crazy, depressed and everything.. questioning my career choice and all. the infectious disease dr keeps me reassured. i just saw him yesterday while at work and he said if i am still negative being that it has been three months he is pretty sure the rest of the year will be the same. good luck to you and i think everything will be just fine!
I had a needlestick exposure on feb 19th when I was oncall. The pt didn’t tell me that he was + for HepC. Later, I found out from his community rehab escort. They tested my blood 3 days after the incident and the test came out “inderterminate”. What does that mean anyway? EHS draw my blood again today. They said they have to another testing. I am so wooried and don’t know what to do. Please help. Was anyone in a similar situation?
Worried Dental Resident. Being that this has been a week of plain HELL for me since my needle stick on Feb 26th, I have been doing a lot of research. My source was also Hep C+. There are many factors that usually determine the outcome of your needlestick. First one being, what did you get stuck with (what kind of instrument)? Second, was there visible blood on the instrument? Third, how deep was the puncture? Fourth, did you have gloves on? I, myself, have come to terms with the possible outcome of my stick. I’ve realized that Hep C is no curable, yet it is treatable. To me that means that it’s “livable” and that’s mainly what matters to me. I’ve finally stopped crying after 6 days. As far as your test being indeterminate….I have no idea what that means. That must be why they’re doing another test. Sometimes the blood can be too dilute or it may have hemolized. If it becomes positive it may mean you contracted HCV prior to your needlestick. The most horrible thing about this kind of needlestick is there is nothing to do but WAIT! It upsets me that I have to wait so long to get my blood drawn again. I’ve gone crazy cleaning in my house! I have a cup full of bleach that I put anything I use (nailclippers, tweezers and anything else I do nails with) in immediately after I use it. My advice to you is keep your head high! Think positive! All will work out in the end! You are not alone…..all of us on this page are with you and are feeling the way you do! I took much comfort in knowing I wasn’t the only person in the world who didn’t feel like this (I don’t want anyone else to go through this, but I took comfort that I am not alone.) I asked one of our lab personal at the hospital I work at what that means and he stated that each lab has different meanings. With our specific lab, he stated indeterminate is a result they would give someone who is showing within nomal range for Hep C antibodies, but they are at the high end of the normal range. He stated they would re-test in a few days to see if there were any changes. Please keep us updated as to your progress as I will keep you updated with mine. Good luck and best wishes.
Sincerely,
Kerri (Chicago)
I had a similar situation. The day I found out I ws pregnant, I was stuck with a used needle. It was a 27 guage hollow bore needle. I had gloves on, removed gloves and poured alcohol on it. It never really bled, but there was a small red dot where I wa poked. I told the dentist that I was working for and he did NOTHING. He said he has been poked so many tomes and we jus hope that theydont have anything and if they do it’s such a small risk. I didn’t know who to contact. Since then I quit my job and have been stressing. I am now ten weeks pregnant, and when I went to my drs appt I told them and they are running tests. Have to wait two weeks before I know anything. Please pray for me!!
stressed ex dental asst, so sorry to hear about your situation. I’m sure you’re ok since there was no bleeding. Did you feel the poke? I understand your position. Being pregnant just adds to the stress. So sorry! I know that no matter what anyone says, it doesn’t matter!!! It wasn’t them! What “tests” are your doctors running? I will pray for you. I’m noticing that a lot of the people on this site are dental assistants. I never realized how much of a risk they’re at. Please keep us updated on your status. We all care!!!!!!! I have 2 more weeks until my 4 week blood re-draw and anticipating every minute of it. Everyone is in my prayers! Keep your heads up!!!!
Thanks so much for writing me back errn. U certainly helped atleast ease my Mind so I can sleep tonight. But as u c it is bothering me because I am up at three n the morning looking this up!! Yes I did feel it. It stung. I know it broke the skin because of the red dot. I didn’t squeeze it after because I had never been told what to do n a situation like this. So it possibly could hav bled. I didn’t go to school for it, but did on the job training. They r testing me for all blood bourne diseases. She said hep c was not on the list n added it for me… Now just the waiting for two weeks on them to give me the results is gonna be tough too.. But I hope all is well so that I can enjoy my pregnancy.. I want my baby to be healthy as well.. It’s so scary.. I sure hope everything turns out great with u as well. U and everyone here will be n my thoughts. It’s such a scary thing for people to go through and makes me thankful for everyone that puts thier life on the line to help others. Hope everyone posting on this site turns out ok..Everyone keep us updated and I will do the same..
stressed ex dental asst~~ hello, i too am pregnant. today is my thirteenth week. I understand the stress you are going thru. I am a little reassured that it has been three months and still all tests are negative. the source patient was also hep c+. I will keep you in my prayers. I know it is hard to deal with and being pregnant at the same time. Keep your head up! =)
Stressed ex dental student….I feel your pain because I too was up at 3am checking for responses on this site. I was at work though, but while at work, I need to concentrate on work, but I can’t because I’m so upset that I just don’t want to be there. This is a life changing experience whether we all test positive or negative, I’ve learned a HUGE life lesson. Nothing matters more to me than my husband and children and I’m not willing to risk getting hurt and leaving my children without a mother. I feel the way you do…to a certain extent. I can’t imaging how I would feel being pregnant. It’s stressful enough to have to worry about my body and health, but to have a little person inside me would be 1,000,000 times harder. I fully respect you for what you’re going through. I’ve never been a very religious person, but I pray and now I’m praying now more than ever and every night I pray for everyone on this page. We’re all in it together!!!! That feels good! Congratulations on you pregnancy! It will be a good one! You seem very strong…you quit your job!!!! I’m still at mine! Please keep me updated as I will as well.
RN: aren’t the one who got stuck with an insulin syringe? My story is sooo similar to yours. You’re giving me a lot of hope with your progress!!!! Keep the posts coming!
Sincerely,
Kerri
Last night while at work I stuck my ring finger after giving the resident his nightly dose of insulin, it barely bleed when I squeezed it. I am 23 weeks pregnant. When I called my superviser she told me not to be concerned and that they would do a HIV and HEP panel on him. He is pretty low risk and there is was no evidence of an infectious disease in his chart. I am so upset at myself because I know better…just got careless. I guess my question is should I wait and see what his results are or demand that they take the issue serious. I am not even sure that the drugs are safe for me to take being pregnant and all???
Unsure, sorry about your incident. It is scary! I would definately DEMAND they draw your blood to have a baseline to document you didn’t have either Hep or HIV at the time this happened. That’s the same advice someone on this page gave me. It’s very true. Say you did contract either of the two (which is very unlikely in your case due to the fact that insulin syringes are tiny and you weren’t drawing blood…it was SubQ) you would need to be compensated for your time off. I wouldn’t worry too much though. I got stuck with a Lovenox syringe from a patient who was Hep C+ 2 weeks ago and have been a wreck ever since. Everyone keeps telling me the odds are in my favor and I have been reading posts like this all over. I have yet to see anyone who stated they contracted anything from a sub q stick. I’m sure it’s happened, but it’s pretty rare. I don’t, however, want to be too sure just in case I do get bad news….I guess you can say I want to be ready for it….just in case. Good luck to you and just enjoy your pregnancy!!!!! I’m sure you have nothing to worry about!
P.S. The other site I’ve been reading posts on is allnurses.com. Just got to the search engine on that site and type in needlesticks. You’ll be amazed at how many people get stuck by insulin syringes!!!
Thanks errn for the reassurance and advise…hopefully everything turns out okay for ALL of us. I am going to speak to my supervisor tomorrow and let her know that I really want the proper procedures taken just in case. I have a family to take care of, if something should come of this. I am keeping my fingers crossed for both me and my baby boy. Good luck to everyone on here.
i was just starting work a few weeks ago at hospital when i was in toilets,i accidently picked a saftey capped needle up, im gettin paranoide because the needle had blood on it, i didnt get stuck by it but i did have a non bleeding cut on my finger and im not sure if there was blood on the saftey cap, what should i do
Hi. I’m a nurse working here in the middle east. I have 3 needle prick incidents just few months ago. I have been praying and hoping that I didn’t have any hepatitis virus or HIV from those patients. I have not yet check myself for hepa b, c and HIV to know if I’m still negative. I’m afraid to know. But I’m in deep anxiety until now. Nobody knows about it. Because our hospital has no precautionary measures regarding this. I’m really worried until now. I know that here in middle east, there’s a lot of cases of hepa b and c. I’m really praying for all the people in this forum who’s also in waiting status for blood workup that we can get through with this.
Middle Eastern Nurse, I am so sorry this has happened to you. The not knowing is definately the worst part of it. I will pray for you! Did you get your Hep B vaccine? I can understand your fear. No one knows what it’s like unless it has happened to them. Keep your head up and please keep us posted. I’m scheduled for my 4 week post-stick blood draw on 3/26. I will keep you posted as well.
Well I’ll be going in for my 6 week testing at the end of the week. I keep going through cycles of calm and then seem to freak out again! I keep looking up the stats on a solid bore needle stick with HCV… they make me feel better and worse depending on the day. I can’t seem to get over this! Good luck everyone, I’ll keep you updated. AH!
Does anyone know what the cost difference between a RNA and antibody test are? I am thinking about asking for a RNA test since it can detect HCV much sooner.
today 3/23/10 was my very 1st needle stick..i was rooming a patient i noticed a lancet on the floor i picked it up and placed it in the SHARPS container ..i felt a prick on th tip of my 4th finger R hand saw removed my gloves and saw the blood..I immidiately started FREAKinG oUt..(specially because i have no idea who was injected with the syringe)…..so I squeezed some blood out, washed ….filled out an incident report got a tetunus and lab work drawn for HIV and hep panels……..waiting for my results/ repeat testing PLEASE pray 4 me i”m really really scared
Tomorrow is my first HCV blood draw 4 weeks post my needlestick with a know HCV source. Please pray for me. I’m very nervous and scared! I’ve been ok the past 2 weeks keeping myself occupied. I will keep everyone updated. I’ll pray for you crazyscared!!!! I know the feeling all too well. Thank you everyone for your support.
errn and crazy. Good luck! Are you both getting antibody tests done? Or are they doing RNA tests?
I got both done. My HIV and Hep C antibody tests came back negative and the lab had to sent the blood out for the RNA. Just have to wait another 4 weeks.
i had needle prick yesterday..i injected anti-tetanus through IM to a 14 yrs. old boy..there’s a blood on my index finger,i cleaned it with alcohol and wash with soap and water..i dont know if he has hepatitis or what…but it seems he has a disease his eyes were like color light yellow…i told it to my senior nurse and tell me dont worry and i have to wait 3 months to have HbsAg..i dont have any hepa vaccine..waaaahhh…what will i do?any help??comment? please…=(
finally got my first results back they were NEGATIVE yay but i still have a whole lotta testing to do….my Dr told me that the chances of peopl getting HIV via accidental needle stick is less than 1 %
and HEP C is less than 5% ……kinda relife but still VERY sCared….hope this info helps someone out…..well good luck every 1 best of luck keep posting it really helps people out who r expirencing the same stuff
Kath, I’d suggest seeing a doctor ASAP just to be on the safe side. Does the senior nurse know you have not had your vaccines? I would get another opinion, because it’s your health not theirs. Don’t panic over it, but still take all the precautions you can to look after yourself, because it doesn’t sound like your senior RN is
I am a dentist, and was seeing a HEP C positive patient… I took all the precautions and did not have a needle stick…. i was wearing safety goggles, but as i was fixing my patients provisional acrylic tooth, I felt a little something in my eye… and I dunno if it was my own serum, or if a little small piece of acrylic went through the spaces below my goggles and landed on my eye… I know it was not blood to blood contact… but ive been so anxious ever since…. and I have felt weird but I think it might be the stress… do you think i have a chance of getting HCV or am I just being paranoic.. even if the acrylic had landed in my eye… Ps. the provisory had previously been rinsed with Bleach, before I started fixing it…
I was stuck just yesterday and have cried and cried so much that my face hurts. Was doing a lab draw on a patient who is HEP C + The Patient was super nice and was so worried about people coming into contact with his blood. Well I had locked the cap on the needle pro and was putting it into the sharp box, I hit the side of the box and my little finger went up the tube striking the needle. I didn’t have the heart to tell the patient that I had stuck myself, but the hospital had too, can you believe he called my office in tears and apoligized to the recepionist?? Never could I blame him, I don’t blame myself, it was a freak accident. Well once the patient left the room I washed and washed my hands and called my supervisor. She took me to the ER and stayed by my side for over 4 hours, well after quiting time. All the ER staff came in and shred their past needle stick stories with me with the magical pharse “Your gonna be fine, your risks are low” have they really forgotten what it felt like to be so scared? Ian’s phrase “IT’S MORE LIKE A SHOCK THAN A STICK” that is perfect! I had my base line done and started my prophylaxis meds and so far they haven’t made me sick. I have prayed and prayed that things will be ok. But just knowing that he has Hep C is a hard dose to swallow but knowing that I’m not alone and that so many people have been through this, just reading your stories thru my swollen eyes takes away a little of my fears. I think this website is great, almost like an online therapy session. I will continue to pray for all of you and your return of negative results.
I got my 1st needle stick today. I was drawing blood on a 19 y/o girl with a butterfly. I am always very careful as soon as I pulled out the needle I took it to the sharps container, dropped the needle in 1st, & began to unscrew the hub as I have always done. Then the worst thing happened. the needle flipped around & stuck my thumb. At 1st I didn’t see any blood so I thought it was alright until I removed my glove & saw a small amt of blood. I went straight to the sink & washed with antibacterial soap. I reported it to my supervisor & the patient & I were sent for testing. Even if the test comes back ok I will probably continue to stress over because I know it’s too soon for anything to show up. The worst thing is I’m only 23 & just got married 6 mos ago. We want children & I’m so scared that if the tests come back positive we won’t be able to have them not to mention that I don’t want to put my husband at risk. The patient doesn’t fit the profile of an IV drug user or someone who is promiscuous, but you can’t judge a book by it’s cover.
Hi worried/dentalassistant.
Congrats on successfully clearing the Hep C virus. I had a question regarding your injury with the dental explorer. How deep was your injury? Was it a superficial stick or did the site actually bleed after the needle stick?
Thank you and all the best.
I’m a nursing student about to take my Nclex and on my 22nd anniversary I was stuck. After waiting for results the 67 yr old patient has HIV and Hep C the rest of her results are pending. I’ve been faking it so far, but I’m really scared to death. This is a late career, I’m a grandmother of 8. I don’t know if I have the right to put myself in this position again. I don’t know if I want to. But I have to work! What types of nursing jobs are low risk? I’m on PEP now. Will this keep me from getting a job over the next year? What if she actually has AIDs is that even worse? I was giving heparin subQ in the abdomen, the stick was very small, but bled on my thumbnail cuticle area.
Hi, I have been a nurse for 6+ yrs working in hospitals and doing home-health and agency nursing on the side. I accidentally stuck myself after administering a TB test. I didn’t actually feel it poke but I know I felt something. I was explaining to the patient what to expect and look out for w/TB test as I was placing the syringe in the sharps, and I took my eyes off the needle for just 1 second and that was all it took! I am so glad this blog is available because I have learned so much from reading everybody’s entries and it has eased my anxiety. I have to go to the clinic first thing in am to get checked. It amazes me that accidental needle-sticks are still a HUGE problem and I know I never really worried about it until I stuck myself! So thanks ya’ll!
I was walking along a popular beach in australia and seen a mc donalds bag on the ground next to the rubbish bin and decided to do a good sumaritan act and pick it up and throw it away. As i grabbed it good BANG i got stung, at first i thought it was a bee or insect but i didnt see anything and then looked in the bag and it had two needles in it , great i squeezed heaps of blood out of my finger as i was freaking out thinking i got hep c , which is a problem in the area at the moment,, . The next week or so i was feeling really ill hot fever like flushes that would last up to hours, sweating when its cold and stuff. Pain in my right side of my abdomen area, hard to breath sort of pain. Loss of appetite and really thristy. And then it was gone its been about three weeks now and every once in a while i get a pain but nothing too severe. I am still scared to go to the doctor because i dont want to know what i have, i am scared and certain i have something-or else why would i be so sick? I am single so i cant infect anyone, i will have to go to the doctors soon tho just to make sure. I dont deserve this i love being healthy and love life, i just tried to do the right thing, frickin junkies fucked up my life-maybe? _-Freakin out in australia
Our company sorts and liquidates all the lost and unclaimed baggage for a major carrier. One of my employees searching through a bag got stuck by a lancet in one of the pouches. It was loose in the bag and there is no way to determine whether it was used before or the history or origin of the person who owned the bag (Lost or unclaimed). Now, this luggage has sat at the carriers terminal for 3 months before it is sent to us for liquidation. I have read through the above posts pretty thoroughly and am I correct that there is virtually no risk to a lancet poke when the lancet was originally used (If it was used) over 3 months ago? My understanding is that none of the viruses last much longer than 2 weeks outside the body….am I correct? I would like to be able to give my employee peace of mind if there is zero risk. Thank you in advance and my heart goes out to all you front liners that have the potential to have to deal with a circumstance like this everyday.
I just recieved my first needle stick injury a few days ago from a patient who has documented Hep C. I immediatley stopped in my tracks and stared at my finger. The other nurse who was with me asked what had happened and as my stomach sank I told her I had just stabbed my finger with a butterfly needle. I did my fastest walk possible to the sink and scrubbed my hands for about 10 minutes and used half a container of hand saintizer all the while thinking how scared I was and how my life may change forever and trying my best not to cry. I then collected myself and got on the phone and tried 3 different supervisors none of which were home. I was finally able to reach someone and was told I needed to immediately get my blood drawn as well as the patient. I am awaiting the results of that inital blood draw for HIV, HEP B and C. From what I understand I may not show up if I am infected for about 4 weeks or so, not to mention it may not show for up to a year. I have told few people as I dont want to alarm anyone unneccessarily and I have my moments of thinking the worst about what will happen and crying until I am out of tears. People say not to worry, the risk is low. I wish it were that easy. It is terribly agonizing the wait and I feel for every individual who has ever been in this situation. I am happy to have found this site and see the stories that others have shared.
hi all today i was clearing up after seeing a patient i must of felt something sharp hit my finger it wasv a straight probe.I took my glove off and looked to see if i was bleeding but i wasnt, i squeezed but there was nothing there, im still really worried can someone help me please thankyou!
Hi . like most of the above , i too have stumbled on this website after my suffering my first needlestick today . I’m a theatre staff nurse , and on discarding a used hypo in a discarda-pad today , i stuck it through the cardboard into my finger , drawing a good chunk of blood. On the upside , the needle hadnt been in the patients vein ( it had been used to inject local into his knee cavity with very litle blood present as a tourniquet was applied at the time) on the downside the patient was a 47 year old known drinker / cannabis smoker and im worried he may have been into some funky stuff over the years.
Hi everyone,
last night I had a needlestick from a pt that is hepc and hiv pos. I’m so scared right now. I’m married and was planning on having kids with my wife and now this. I feel like my life is over. I’m just need some advice or support
hi everyone
it me again. I just wanted to share my story I didn’t put it in the post because I oukdnt think straight. I was doing a blood draw. And went to far in the vien. I pulled back a little bit and the pt moved. I think. I’m not sure. The tube hissed as I got air and the needle came out and my right hand went down. The pt had the turniqut still on and started bleeding. Gave him a cause to clean it up. I didn’t check the needle if it had blood as I wasn’t thinking straight. I was bleeding in my right meatus in between my thumb and fore finger. I put a alcohol swad on it and rubbed it out. I brought the pt to his room and went straight to the ed. I om antivirals and that is all I can think about over and over. I’m so scared. The pt said he has been complient with meds but he was on the unit in oct and his viral load was hi. He said he was taking his nedssince then but he is a drug user iv. I’m so scared what are my chances?
Hey All,
I am a Medical Assistant student, today was my last day of my externship and of course I nicked myself with a 23gauge butterfly. There was no blood on the needle, the patient was a hard stick and the vein rolled. It just barely pricked my finger and probably if I had not seen the hole in my glove I would not have known that I got a needlestick.
So anyway, there was no blood on the needle and my thumb did not bleed, I immediately washed my hands and then cleaned the area with alcohol. About 30 mins later you couldnt even tell anything happend. But I am still worried, I let my supervisor know and the patient was more than willing to come in and have an HIV test. I checked his chart and there was no evidence of HIV, HBV or HBC. I saw the urgent care doc and he sent me to get blood work. But I have horrible veins and no one could get anything from me today (friday) I am going back Monday to have it drawn but I am still pretty concerned!!!
Can anyone put my mind at ease for the weekend? Thanks
hey Angel,
I hope ur name is an omen for me….more then likely you have alot better chances of not getting it then me. I’m on meds and scared beyond belief. Wake up with anxiety attacks. I here if you need to talk…i hope and pray we will all be ok..im only about 2 and a half months in to my first nursing job.but keep praying. The more prayers the better.
I got poked while passing a cannula in Hep C positive patient whose viral load was 10 million. I did not bleed and this happened while I had gloves on. The needle was non hypo. I went to emergency and they took my blood for baseline. Patient did not consent to give blood. I need prayers. Can anyone tell me how bad is it?
Hey. I am a final year medical student. I got struck by a needle while drawing blood from a HIV +ve patient. It’s simply horryfying.I have started PEP, but am nauseated and stressed. There’s just too much going through my head.
Thanks JohnnyP, you are in my prayers for sure!
Worried you are also in my prayers….
Thanks Angel. Hope no one gets any bad disease. you are all in my prayers.
May God save us all.
Thanks angel and worried. I will pray too. Just scared was gonna have kids this year. Im just so distraught. Im gonna go to my counselor every week.
Hi Issac,
I can relate its non stop self torment. I look at my wife and all ready see myself not being with her. I imagined the worst the past few days. i had my bouts with anxiety before but never like this. But my counselor said im negative today were not promised tomm. So live for today, you know your negative now. Its still leaving me petrified but helps me sleep and cuddle up to my wife that much tighter.
On Jan 4th I had a small poke witha surgical instrument used on a hep c patient. it was a small poke and i had gloves on but when i took them off to wash my hads, I saw a small cut with no blood. I had a RNA test for hep c at 6 and 11 weeks and it was neg. now waiting for the 6 months. I also had a needlestick on Jan 11 one week from my previouse incident. I had double glove but still bled. The patient tested neg on a rapid hiv test and neg for hep b and c. But 3 weeks later, I had muscle aches, chills, sore throat, neck pain, headache and fatigue, not to mention the anxiety!. My doctor did a mono test which was negative at first but positive a couple weeks later. I have had hiv antibody testing at 7, 10, 13, and 15 weeks. i aslo had a hiv DNA PCR test, all negative. Am still very anxious.
You are all in my prayers
On friday i used a lancet to test my 18 month old sons blood to see what his hemoglobin level was at (he has a rare form of anemia) and my babysitter was there she asked me to check her hgb too. SO i did her first and then tested my son but stupid stupid me forgot to use a new lancet i was focusing so hard on doing the test right. Anyhow she is young and a good clean kid, she has only had two boyfriends and never used drugs but had gotten a tattoo a few months ago (i was with her and checked the place out thoroughly) i know i’m probably freaking for nothing, she said she’d do a blood test if it made me feel better. What is the likelyhood that i’ve infected my son with anything if she does have something and aside from the big three (he has already been vaccinated for hep b) are there other things to worry about. The lancet pierced the skin but we had to squeeze to get the blood to come out on both her and my son.
Johnny P, as I read your posts, I know EXACTLY how you feel! It is a horrible feeling and no matter what anyone says, you will find yourself up late at night looking for responses on this site as I did. I got stuck with a Hep C exposed needle. The anxiety is natural and it does decrease over time as you continue to get your negative results. I have had my 4 and 8 week blood draws and both were negative, but 6 months is the DEFINITIVE marker (so I’ve been told by my EHS rep). Just know you are not alone and we are all here for you!!! Keep your head up and remember your risk are very low (expecially with HIV). It’s a weak virus and much harder to catch. Thinking and praying for you!
Hi errn,
I am thankful for your response so very much! I appreciate it because my mind keeps racing for negative thoughts. It’s all can think about. I have two more weeks to go before the first test of 4 weeks. I been trying to figure out ways ways to avoid work because I get so anxious when I’m there. Errn I will reread your post when I’m am down. Thank You! Thank You! I will pray for you too!
Well I got my results back from my first blood test and everything is negative. I feel like I can relax for a while now, until it is time for the next test.
I am still thinking of everyone and hope that everything turns out okay…..
Thanks for the support!!
hey angel
I am so happy for you. I don’t know how to deal with this. I been breaking down alot. Crying. And when I at work I am so angry. I’m hoping angel that we can make it through this. It’s been two weeks for me and it feels like forever! Sending my love and prayers!
I don’t think you can describe what it feels like to someone who has not had a needle stick. Instead of feeling the prick, you feel like your stomach dropped into your boots! I had my first stick today after giving a patient an IM tetanus. I re-capped the needle, as I wasn’t familiar with the new self-retracting needle, and lightly poked my index finger (Feeling SO dense right now–NEVER recap a needle!). ULGH! At first, it didn’t bleed, but as I was slightly freaking out, I milked my finger while srubbing it with soap and water, and it bled. What a terrifying feeling. I didn’t know to ask my patient if he could be tested, and by the time I told my RN I was paired with, the patient had left. I got their name and PHN, to give to Occupational Health (which I went to right away and had blood drawn), and am hoping he will consent to being tested. As I’m in my last year, my husband and I were thinking about having kids, and now have to wait another year and wear protection for the next year as well–what a life altering situation.
Thanks for everyone’s honesty and stories. It’s nice to know that I’m not alone at 2:45am checking the internet for info on needle sticks. Your stories and encouraging words help to keep me sane as I wait for test results.
QUESTION: Because the stick was after an IM injection, are my chances of contracting anything less as the needle was not in my patient’s vein? Thanks!
Johnny P, have you talked to anyone about this?? I know sometimes it hard to get past our pride and talk to a professional but it may be benficial for you at this point.
I hope that things work out for you, you are in my thoughts!!
While practicing blood drawing on my mother’s fiance who has a history of alcohol and drug abuse (supposingly not IVDA), I accidentally stuck myself with a butterfly needle in the pointer finger. I saw it start to bleed through my glove and i immediately went to the bathroom, flushing it with water and milking it for about 10 mins while also applying alcohol and even Listerine (don’t ask…maybe a little too over the top). At first he appeared to be slightly nervous and overtly playful when my mother and I tried to talk to him about it, and he kept avoiding the discussion. He is naturally a playful person so eventually he caught on that i was genuinely concerned. He told me that he is “disease free” but he proceeded to start making jokes about my “eyes turning yellow and starting to sag” and even upon sticking myself he said “oh you poked yourself, great!” while chuckling. At a serious time like that and even now i find it hard to laugh. I go back and forth with worry. My mother just reconnected with this guy after 30 something odd years nearly two months ago and barely knows anything about him. now…and neither do I. Because it didn’t happen in a clinic setting and i don’t have health insurance i’m not quite sure what i should do or where to go??? I’m shaken and shocked. Any help on what i should do would be appreciated? Should i suggest he go get tested? I don’t want to be offensive and he was nice enough to let me use him for practice but i really want to know….
Best wishes to everyone that is awaiting their results. Keep trusting in God and thank you all for sharing your stories.
I am thankful for this article that I’ve
come across while I actually sit here waiting to have blood drawn etc. Well….here’s my speil. I’m currently a premed student that has already graduated from the unversity and am currently working as an instrumentation tech while apply to med school. Due to the nature of my new job among other things I have to do is wash the instruments by hand
before sticking them in a washer. As a result we need to use protective gear etc but it is sometimes not enough. Sadly this is the second time it’s happened to me. Both times (1st time and now while I sit here ) I’ve had a part belonging to a newborn lap pierce my skin. Thanfully last time and this time both instruments were not canulated or hollow (a skin hook and a sharpsclamp or something like that). The first time a tiny amount of blood came from the cut after squeezing and it was thought there was not enough damage for a risk and the test for any possible thing came back neg ( this being that they couldn’t get a blood sample from the kid so they had to do me up fit EVERYTHING ). This time it’s from a case in the er and they are trying to get the info. I’m thinking everything will be fine as the instrument appeared to be clean but still I’m sure I’ll be carrying this cloud over my head fir another six weeks.
Hey Angel,
going to a counselor. But mostly talking with my friends. It’s just that being a father and being there has been a big goal in my life. I just so scared of losing that. I guess I got one more week for the first test. No signs or symptoms of infection ..just nade myself scared when I thought my throat was hurting and started poking my tonsils which really irritated them. How are you doing angel?
Well, I went to this rave for the first time and I have been hearing rumors about crazy lifeless people with HIV positive needles and poking people with them. Well last night I went and took ecstasy for the first time also (I know, BAD ) well after thirty minutes of just walking around the rave I felt this itch on my arm and leg And this is where my question comes in.. I got these mosquito looking bumps on my arm and leg where it itched I have a major phobia for HIV and I was wondering did I get pricked or was it an allergic reaction or what? PLEASE HELP I’M VERY SCARED I HAVEN’T SLEPT FOR AT LEAST THREE DAYS!!!
hey everyone wed is my first test. My nerves are still there but mostly sadness is left..as well as frustrated with my mistake. Heard the one month test depending on the test used if using the newer test is close to being accurate and the 3 moth is almost 100 percent if you don’t have a immune diease beforehand.
I feel so much better having found this website. Two weeks ago tomorrow I was stuck on the side of my middle finger after drawing a pt with a 23G butterfly. The pt consented to the necessary testing and was HCV+. I am a married mother of five little children and I have been beside myself for the past two weeks. My employer is doing an HCV RNA by PCR test on me tomorrow. I, like most of you, have been living like I am infected. Sometimes my mind is so consumed that I cannot even get out a clear thought. Because of the sensitivity of the testing I should have a pretty definitive answer as to my status within the next few days or so. I’ve cried, battled nausea and depression, and ended up quitting my job as a Phlebotomist because I decided the risk was not worth the reward. I am going to school for a completely different career and was only working to make extra money.
As I was driving the other day I saw a sign that said “If God brings you to it, he’ll bring you through it”. I have clung to this for comfort that God is going to see me through this and I will be fine. I hope that this gives someone else some comfort.
hey beenstuck,
I hope that saying is true for me and I thank your for sharing ur story. I’m scared too and been severely depressed as well. I go thurs for my fist HCV AND Hiv test . The pt I had had both. I wanted kids which is all I wanted in life but seems like there is always something. I hope to hear on how weverrything is going for you I will pray for you. I wish I an be called dad one day.
work as a surgical assistant and was stuck last week 5/19 by a doctor while we were closing a case. It was a solid borr needle from a suture. As soon as it happened I turned went to the sink took my glove off washed and bled the sight very well. I then had to change the needle and get back to work. Everyone keeps telling me ill be fine and the risks are low. The patient will not consent to have a blood work done, which makes me think he’s hiding something!! He is not from the US and I was told by a few of the doctors that this might just be a cultural thing because I am a women. When I approached him after the case was finished all he said to me was YOU WILL LIVE!!!! Who says that? I went to the ER as that is our protocol for a needle stick. They drew my labs (I knew I would be fine I was tested last year) I had my one week follow up today, and they told me everything I already knew. We made my appoinment to be tested again at 6 weeks 12 weeks and 6 months. I truly am devastated. I feel like a person who has a phobia of heights at 100,000 feet all the time. Im just so lost. Im going on vacation July 10th and will have my 6 week results back by then although I know its not 100% it will give me a good idea but I don’t know if I could live with my self knowing “I could still have it”. The best part is we are trying to have a baby and this vacation was out “baby” making vacation. I’m just ranting and will probably go online every day until and look anything to do with HIV and Hep C
-scared girl
hello,
my name is jackie i work in a infertility clinic my position is a medical assistant.i got stuck by a needle on may 26, 2010. the needle was a retrieval needle 17 gauge that needle is use to retrieve the eggs from the patients ovaries, it was bloody i then made the most horrible mistake by covering the needle with the cover it came with before throwing the needle in the biohazard container thats when i felt some pain on my finger and saw so much blood rapidly come out of my finger i was in shock my eyes got watery. then the doctor said we r ready to move the patient to the recovery room so i did not tell him anything i helped him move the patient then soon after that i quickly told my co-worker about the situation she then told me omg clean it i did i started crying i told her i wanted to tell my boss she immediately said no its not a good time to tell him i was crying trying to hide my face . i told her to get the patients chart and look at her law labs thankfully hiv is neg but i saw positive hep b on her and her husband i freaked i did not know what to do my co worker freaked she said to relax then i saw that the patients husband was cmv positive im freaking out even more i want to tell my boss to please explain to me what the hell these peoples labs are all about my co worker tells me not to that he will get upset. whatever after crying a river she then tells me ill tell him i said ok then she went to his office to tell my boss she then came out of his office and said he got really upset .. i then did not care .. he then read the patients labs he said hep b antigen is neg and hep b antibodies r positive that im fine nothing to worry about if i got my shots but still how could he b so calmed about the situation then i pointed out cmv and he also said that the patient is pos for the antibodies i am still freaking out so i tell him when can i test he said test for what there is nothing to worry about uugghh at that point i feel so sad and depressed i needed a second opinion. after work i went to c my doc and he said he will test me for everything and then again in 2 months im so stressed out i think or sleep or do anything at all i dont even know if im pregnant and i read online that if someone has been infected with cytomegalovirus cmv it can cause abnormalities on the fetus i feel so depressed what should i do i told my doc to run the cmv test on me and he also said not to worry about that test that it is to expensive anyway who the ffff cares if its to expensive i want to check for that i feel so lonely family members dont know they will make me feel worse anyways i will keep u guys updated on the test results god bless all people that get stuck by a needle it really suckkksss
WOW! my heart goes out to all of you
im in year 10 and looking to study dental nursing/assisting when i leave school, but i had no idea there were so many risks involved! ive never heard of needlestick before, but it sounds like its a very stressful thing to have happen. im thinking of reconsidering my career path, because i feel like more should be done for those who have been in this situation.
I took my first test and it was neg but 12 hrs later I feel a know right below my ear, Im scared its my lymh node. I been pressing on my lymph nodes for two weeks when my dr checked em. i had a day of peace now im angry and anxious. I wanted to be a nurse to help people now all my goals in life feel like their gone. I like at the point of saying whats the point.
I suffered a “needle stick” injury via a scalpel blade, after it was used on the patient! As I turned to pass the sharps recepticle to the surgeon he turned to hand me the blade pointing at me, not concealed into his hand. I ended up on the end of the surgical list for a washout of wound and suturing of laceration. I had the intial testing required, though before the three months I had shifted from the area and approached a GP for the follow up testing, and in that office he provided me with a very stern lecture in regards to sharps safety, I ended up leaving in tears as I had waited three months for this test and ended up being scalded for MY lack of education. Luckily all tests were clear, and the surgeon in question also ended up learning a lesson as he had been very concerned by my situation as he was aware that he should have taken more care in his handling of sharps. And I still love my job I am constantly aware of my surroundings and educate new staff into the OT environment that this is a team effort and we work to keep everyone safe!
My heart goes out to all of you. Johnny P, you will be fine. I also had a needlesstick injury Jan 11th with a 25g needle. The patient tested neg for all tests but since then, I have had a bunch of symptoms with sorethroat, nausea, swollen neck, 15 pound weight loss, muscle aches, chills, name it. I was told I had mononucleosis which added to my anxiety as I could not figure out how I could have got it. Luckily, I have had Hiv antibody test at 7, 13, 16, and 18 weeks all negative, and I also had a pcr dna test at 14 weeks which was negative. I had hep c rna tests done at 6 and 11 weeks, also negative. Many doctors tell me symptoms mean nothing over tests. So believe your tests. I also had to quite my job as a circulating nurse in the operating room.
I will pray for each and everone.
wow this has been HELL….i had the worst long weeeknd which is normally the time i have the most fun
nose ears are killing me and my head feels like it weights a 100 pounds i hope its just allergies i dont know how im going to live the next 4 weeks untill i get my 6 week test done. i just want to be fine and out this all behind me!!!!!!!!!!!!
THANK YOU ANXIOUS! I needed that. I got my first results back the first test is negative for hep c and hiv. My mind is looking for an answer but not the one I want. I been poking at my neck and my nodes for 3 weeks. I asked the dr on my floor to check the knot in my neck and she said its not a node but a tendon. It makes sense because I did heavy lifting for the first time in like a year and the next day I had it. Im guessing the constant poking at them irriatates them and also looking at my tonsils I actually poked at em and they got super irritated. I usally such a rationale person but this is made me such the opposite. Anxious Thank You my nerves have just dropped.
hi there my partner and i have a tattoo shop and he accidently pricked himself with a used needle while cleaning up although we knew the customer you still have your doubts i called the doctors and they said that we had to wait 24 hrs? and then get a blood test does that sound right? please help
inker go to the er and get the prophalaxis medication asap. Dont wait just go. the medsmay prevent the infection by 80 percent and the sooner u start and if the person is negative then the meds may not be needed.
is there more of a risk for transmission of hiv or hepb or c if the object punctures your skin or scratches your skin enough to make a small bleed.
I too had a exposure . I dont know about the risk there . I am very much worried as i am engaged and going to be married in a month .
I am not a healthcare worker.I am form small town in india . Recently i went to lab for a checkup . There they picked my hand with a new needle and made my hand to make direct blood contact with the glass plate . I dont know for what they use that plate . when I touched the plate with blood in my hand it was completely dry and it did not have any visible drops of blood in it . After touching the plate with blood in finger , I asked the the technician there. He said that the needle is new one and the glass plate will be reused . He just mentioned that glass plate will be just washed . I asked about autoclave he said no .
I am so worried of touching the glass plate with blood in my hand ( By single pick made by fresh syringe ) .
Is there very high risk if they have not sterilized the plate properly . I am very sure the plate was very dry and I went early in morning . So it must have been dry atleast 10 hours .
I know people here are at more risk than me .and i dont know how much risk i have .
I am very much worried because i am going to start a new life and Hep c is causing me lot of fear and sterss in me . The facts it can last for 4 days outside body frightens me .
Lot of medical students are here . am i at higher risk ? How long after this exposure can i undergo HCV PCR test to know things for sure .
Some one help me . The fear on future and my dreams makes me so worried and cant get peace of mind to sleep . Help plz .
I have heard that invisible drop of blood can cause HCV is it true ?
Hi everyone…so glad to have found this website. I am an RN and this month makes 1 year since I have been working and yesterday finishing up my shift I had a needle stick. I was flushing an IV of an HIV positive patient and in going from the iv port to the bed to close the safety device over the needle it somehow poked into my thumb and went in one side and almost out the other….it was a 22 guage needle and from what I could see and based on the situation of just an IV flush there was no blood on it…but its still scary as hell! I hurried up and threw the needle in the sharps and closed my thumb into my hand and left the room and went wash my hands about a million times. I didn’t tell the patient and I don’t think she noticed but when I left my shift I went to the supervisor and went to the ER for the blood tests and they started me on the PEP with Kaletra and Truvada for 28 days. These meds are huge and hard to swallow and have awful side effects! I’m so worried and my boyfriend of 8 years is so worried about me. The next few weeks/months are going to be dreadful waiting to find out my results. Good luck to each and everyone of you that has been through a similar experience. We just have to put it in God’s hands and hope for the best. Has anyone else experienced a needlestick from an IV flush?
I am a medical student. I was working in emergency and i got my finger poked and it bled and I made my finger to bleed more and then washed it.It was needle of syringe which was used for intramuscular injection given to patient who was hcv positive. I went to doc on duty and the patient was given blool test which was positive for hcv and then i did blood tests too at the moment its clear i have taken vaccintion after the incidence for hbv. i am freaked out so much and i hav’t told my parents too. WOULD U PLZ SUGGEST ME WHAT SHOUL I DO NEXT.
Just got my first results…my hiv was negative, hep b was normal bc ive been immunized and hep c was within normal limits..thank God. Now just have to wait until the next blood work. Continuing to pray!
thank you so much for the reply we went to the er they didnt give him a shot thou? where now in the prosess of the 6 weeks 3moths and 6 months blood test all we have to do is wait.. thank you again and goodluck to everyone else
I got stuck with a used needle yesterday early in my shift at work. I did everything the policy told me to do, such as first aid, informing my manager, occupational health dept and filling out incident forms. With all that done I carried on with the rest of my duties. There were still some bits to clear up such as identifying the patients ‘at risk’ status. Thats when some obnoxious medical staff delayed giving me the info and then compromised my right to confidentiality (ie not telling everyone in my work place).
I went into melt down. The patient had no markers in her history and the incident was deemed low risk. But I guess the stress of having to deal with it all, with very little support sent me over the edge. I was supposed to go back to work today, but received a phone call telling me I would be short staffed and ultimately leaving me with all if the needle based contacts to do. Being short staffed and needles sent me over the edge again.
I’ve been crying like a baby since it happened. It was low risk and I keep telling myself that, but feel like such an idiot 1) for getting stuck in the first place 2) for how I’m reacting.
I went to place an iv.. which was clean and not inserted into pt.. my ambulance driver hit a bump and the needle pricked through my gloves and into my thumb… there was some blood on my gloves in that area… anyone have any statistics on this?
Tat guy.
I just spent the weekend freaking out!!!
I had just got done tattooing an hiv+ client and like all my clients I take extreme care and everything I do is professional and clean. But it just so happened as I was dispossing of this particular needle it slipped from my hands and fell to the floor unfortunatly it hit my leg on the way down it did not draw blood but did however leave a red dot where it had hit. I have been trying to have a positive outlook about this but I just can’t seem to stop freaking out seeing as my wife and I have recently been try to get pregnant. Any how some words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated. Thanks and good luck to everyone.
I got my first needle stick last night after giving an insulin SQ injection to a patient, not known to have anything, but Im soo worried still. Ive been a nurse since 2002 and have never had to face this kind of thing. Will be going for blood tests today and I was told the patient will be getting tested too. The sheath that goes over the needle when you are done giving the injection stuck open and my finger scraped across the needle leaving like a little paper cut. i know the risk of me getting anything is extremely low but i am raising 3 little kids by myself and the thought makes me sick to my stomach, So for right now I am just trying to keep it together and pray.
Tat guy.
I just spent the weekend freaking out!!!
I had just got done tattooing an hiv+ client and like all my clients I take extreme care and everything I do is professional and clean. But it just so happened as I was dispossing of this particular needle it slipped from my hands and fell to the floor unfortunatly it hit my leg on the way down it did not draw blood but did however leave a red dot where it had hit. I have been trying to have a positive outlook about this but I just can’t seem to stop freaking out seeing as my wife and I have recently been try to get pregnant. Any how some words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated. Thanks and good luck to everyone.
Thank you for this site. i find comfort and hope in all the postings. Here’s my story.
On july 10, I accidentally got stuck with a 22 inch needle that was used to inject an alcoholic pt. The patient had no history of IV drug use of whatever so I was “worried but not really worried” when it happened. Nevertheless, i followed my hospital’s protocol and got my baseline drawn and the patient consented for testing as well. Today the patient’s lab results came back – negative for HIV Hep B and RPR, but reactive to Hep C. My world literally stopped for a moment! Although the statistical chances of contracting Hep C from that small needle prick was low, I know I can only breathe a sigh of relief once i get my one yr’s worth of testing and all are negative. I’m praying for myself and for everybody here who are undergoing the same situation. Good luck and God bless us all.
Today, july 27th I got my first needle prick. I was trying to get some blood samples from a newly diagnosed Hep C + patient, with a 23 inch needle, I located the vein, pushed the needle aproximately 5 mm into the skin, but then doubted, pulled the needle away and just when I was going to recap it, it slipped and pricked my thumb. The patient didn’t bleed, he was left with a red spot, but my thumb was bleeding a little bit. I panicked, I was shocked, I was horrified, so I immediately left the needle and syringe on the table and ran to wash my hand with hot water and soap (first thing I saw) and milked the blood out. Everyone was looking at me with that horrible stare that pretty much says “ouch, I’d hate to be you” and I just wanted to run, scream, cry, all at the same time. I went immediately to the lab, checked the patient’s info, he is negative for HIV and Hep B, but he has a high Hep C count, and actually is on the acute phase of the disease. Tomorrow I’m getting some blood samples taken, some other in a month and again in 2 months (then in 6 months, and the “final” one in 1 year). I’m so scared, never been like this before. Now I can only pray, pray to God.
I’ll keep posting here all of my results. Good Luck and may God be with you all!
I wating my 3 months. Im freaking out. Im at work till 730. I dont want to work as a nurse here anymore. Im just so bent out of shape and my anxiety is making me feel awful. I scared to do bllod draws and it wenrt away but when this test came around i in panick mode. 1 year Rn im scared just like you. I was planning to have kids and this threw me for a loop.Praying for everyone!
Hey all. I got stuck for the first time last night. Turns out the tiny needles inside the ‘insulin pen’ screw on syringe things are longer than you would think.. long enough to poke through a guy’s underarm fat and right into your poorly placed index finger. No known diseases but you never know. poor guy feels awful. Had my baselines drawn and as I knew, all of those are negative, I wasn’t offered prophylactic because it’s a low risk situation – no visible blood from him, no visible blood from me, injection syringe rather than drawing, and it’s a 29# needle – tiny. But man, it still BLOWS. You never know what somebody does. He claims he’s free of disease but he also thinks the antibiotics he’s on are going to prevent transmission of everything to me, so he’s not all that well educated. He consented to the blood draw so I’ll get his results soon, I think. Very… very anxious. Miserable. did NOT want to come back to work today. My super was extremely unhelpful but the ED staff was super nice. Definitely going to feel like crap for a little bit here until I find out his results. I’m with you all.
when i was going to dental school.. i got pricked my a dental explorer… i told the main dental assistant she said dont worry i know him you will be fine.. i got tested 6 weeks after and nothing so i am going at the end of this month to go get tested for 16 weeks after i am so scared.. i just got married and i dont want to jepordize being able to have kids or loosing or infecting my husband… i wish they would have made him get tested and me tested because this stress is way to much to handle..
I am a RN student and got my first needle stick as a part time patient care assistant. Patient was a 69 year old female so everyone thought I would be fine. Patient was HIV negative but turned out to be HCV positive. I am a mess. School starts again in a month and I do not know how I am going to cope. I am a wife and mother. I cannot focus on my responsibilities. How could this have happened? Everyone tells me that the chances are low, but I am terrified. My PCP gave me some anxiety meds and it is the only thing keeping me sane. My worst fears may come true. This six week wait is taking its toll on me. Please help with any advice.
I have just finished M.A. school and was lucky enough to get my first job 3 days after i got out of school. Its been about a month since i started on my new job and i love it. I work with seniors and we normally do not draw blood there but when an older person cannot get to the lab to get their blood drawn, its just easier for them to get their blood drawn in the office. I was working on drawing from a woman using a butterfly needle. i missed, so i pulled out of her arm and reached for the safety, and stuck myself in the thumb. To make matters worse, the needles that they have, do NOT have safety’s on them. When i first started, i was shocked but i didnt say much. I didnt want to offend anybody by being the new girl who thought she knew everything. anyways, i poked myself with her dirty needle, although, there was no visible blood on this needle, i freaked out. I immediately ran to the sink and washed my thumb with soap and water and started sqeezing my finger so it would bleed. I dont know why i was doing this..maybe i thought that by sqeezing my finger, i would be less likely to contract anything from hers. lol. I ran out of the room, and immediately had to go sit down and i started crying so hard. I am so scared. It has now been only a couple of hours since i stuck myself, and i am less freaked out now.. but the possiblity of contracting anything like HIV or hep C, still worries me sick and until i get the results, i will have this HUGE hole in my stomach. all i can think about is this needlestick and why i reached for a safety on a needle that did not have one… (which i dont know why they have it in the workplace first of all) thinking about this, has made me so angry. I dont understand. you are supposed to be safe and protected at work especially in the healthcare field. The patient i had drawn the blood from was in her late 80’s.. she’s been married to the same man for 67 or however long years.. (once this traumatic event happened to me, i dont want to think about math or anything else for that matter. The dr. i work for sent her blood out for a rapid HIV test. and i will get the results by tommorow morning. (hopefully). i know the chances are low but i am still so worried. Im only 20
I used my blood glucose tesing needle on my cousin, not thinking about any thing being wrong. I then started thinking about it and am scared of what could be… I have already used the needle. Everytime I test I squeeze allot of blodd out. Whats anyones thoughts other that I’m dumb!
I am a medical student, I got my first needle stick injury on 22 june 2010. i got my blood test results after 3 weeks then after one month its all negative thanks to ALLAH. m still worried.
i ws taking sutures of a patient who came into the ER last night and i think i got pricked just because the forceps slipped out of my hand but im not sure since i felt no sting and there ws no blood oozing out after i took off my latex gloves. i applied pressure to my fingers but the blood still did not ooze out. is it just my paranoia kicking in?. the patients status is unknown since he absconded immediately for some reason before i can order in tests. please help its freaking me out. all you guys have really been nice.thank you.
SO….Came back from a two week holiday to be poked with a 25g fragmin needle. It was dropped in my patients wheelchair ( I have no idea how) so when I went to pull up his gown to give him an injection in the abdomen I feel a liitle prick…I move the gown some more and see the needle without the safety being engaged. I was not upset because the pt only had a superbug, did the whole needlestick protocol and guess what? the pt is hep c positive!!!! I was totally ok the first day thinking this old man had nothing! Now is a totally different story. I go to work and I am so angry that someone left that needle. I cry and I cry, one minute I’m ok and the next I just tthink of the worst. I am only 23….I want kids…I’m healthy (or i was healthy). But now i have the anxiety of not knowing. Everyone tells me that there is nothing to worry about, it is low risk. But its my finger that got poked…I don’t even know if there was blood on the needle. I just don’t know what to do? I feel like i’m dirty! Someone tell me a happy outcome……
Being a HIV positive since 1999 I find some of the comments on here extremely misleading and the paranoia and fear that some project is truly frightening. It is no wonder, with such stigma still present among the population that so few people in my support group would ever wish to disclose their status.
HIV does not stop you from having children, and for another thing numerous studies have shown that those on meds for longer than three months and with no underlying health issues are higly likely to be uninfectious. (Don’t take my word for, google Swiss Study and Spanish Study) numerous individuals in London with Negative partners have had unprotected sex in order to start a family, their partners remain negative, and so do their children. I do not wish to trivialise in any way the wonderful job those in the medical profession do, but would also wish to stress that some (not all) of the fears expressed here border on hysteria, and do not help educate or reduce stigma within the general population.
Thankyou PositivePerson.
As I wrote way up in the original post, the chances of chances of catching HIV from the type of needle stick injuries most people are posting here, is incredibly minuscule ( 0.3%).
And whilst it is obvious that these people are distressed and traumatized from their incidents, it is perhaps even more concerning that many seem to be healthcare workers who have not been given the appropriate information and support following their occupational exposure injuries.
Thanks for addressing these very important issues of paranoia and stigma and bringing a little perspective to this conversation.
I’m so happy I found this site. It’s 3am , I have to be up in 2 hours and here I am like you all looking for answers. I was pricked with a needle a few weeks ago after giving a 60 something yr old women a cortisone injection by recapping the needle. I was never told of making an incident report nor was I aware there were medications you could take after such an incident. The doctor I work for wasn’t concerned at all so I didn’t worry, I thought I was paranoid. After weeks of no sleep I’m reading this and realizing I’m not crazy! I called the lady after the incident who was very sweet and insisted she was healthy with no issue. Now I may call and request she come in fir testing. I’m just so mad, upset, crying that my the doctor I work for did not give me any of this information to help my fears. I hope everyone here has great outcomes and finds relief in prayers and God while your going through this. I’ll post my update but I have a feeling I may Lise my jib after I confront my dr tomorrow:( wish me luck
Today I was poked thru a glove with a dental scaler when I was banding it with it’s tray set up to go in the ultrasonic. No blood or anything, no hole thru the glove, the wound looked to be totally superficial. But i checked the chart just incase (after washing and disenfecting); fibermyalgia and a lot of meds to go with it. It was not something I was worried about. But, now the site is swollen, red, and there is discomfort. It looks like I get to have a chat with my boss tommorrow. Oh the joys of heath care. BTW in dentistry we have to re-sheathe needles all the time. We use a one-handed scoop method. Luckily, I’ve never been poked with one. But the scalers always bite me.
i am an RN who works in icu.i was just taking care of RTA victim with laccerated liver,bleeding and she was hemodynamically unstable.so i had to give lot of blood transfusion.i was so busy dealing with the patient ,i was trying to hang the second unit of bood,i used the same transfusion setthat used before it just slipped and my finger got cut,a clear cut with bleeding from the site.the set was definitely contaminated with blood .i know all blood for transfusion are checked for infectious markers ,i am really stressed out.i didn’t report to anybody other than few of my collegues because i am so scared….i am really stressed out with poor sleep ….i am really really worried…i am really worried about so called window period for this infectious disease…i am just trusting god..i just got married in april and my husband is still back home….i can’t even tell him,because i am not sure how he is going to take it…it happened auguest 8, 2010.1week in to the incident i started having sore throat with mild fever.now i feel like i have body aches .i am not sure what is going.on.i am just hoping everything is fine….but my anxiety giving me all these symptoms. guys i am with u all going through this difficult times,my prayers are all with you.remember me in your prayers….i hope my good lord will give me nice family with kids……i am hoping everything is going to be fine…..
Just an update, all of my tests have been negative. Thank God!!! Hopefully it continues to stay that way. Good luck and God bless the rest of you all!
I had a needstick from a HIV patient a month ago. The world almost ended for me. I had my one month cocktail drug. As of now I just had my one month HIV/HepC/Hep B test done. I am hoping for a negative result but my biggest worry is three months done the road. Anyway wish you all good luck. I am still moving forward with my life. There is a huge stress on my shoulders as well as everyone here expressing their openion. Good luck to all of us
I slightly pricked myself today with a needle from a butterfly. I was closing the needle when the long string flipped up and the needle hit the bone on my thumb. I still had my gloves on and couldnt even recoginze the prick. I immediately took my gloves off and washed my hands with the bacterial soap. I’ve been told to squeeze out?? but nothin was really coming out bcuz it was more of a scrape than an actual poke. Im stil a lil nervous though and the crazy thing is I just got tested 2wks ago for HIV, HEP B, & C and everything was negative. Should I wait 3 weeks or get tested again immediately??
I WENT TO PLACE GOT RAPID TEST DONE AFTER HE STUCK ME WITH THE NEEDLE HE TELL ME HE HAS HIV IM SCARED OUT MY MIND HE SHOULD TOLD ME BEFORE HE HAS HIV BEFORE HE STUCK ME WITH A NEEDLE I JUST DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO HE JUST TOLD ME COME BACK IN 3 MOS I WAS ON MY 11WEEK 2 DAYS ALL MY TEST WHERE NEG NOW THIS I DONT KNOW IF I CAN GO THUR ANOTHER 3 MOS OF HELL I ALWAYS THOUGH THEY HAD BE CLEAN TEST I SEE I WAS WRONG
It’s been 5 weeks already since I got accidentally pricked in my thumb with a needle previously used in an Hep C positive patient. Next week I’m getting a PCR done, plus anti-HCV antibodies tests. The first two weeks after the prick were awful, I cried almost every single day, and when I came to the hospital every morning during those 2 weeks, you could definitely see me walking and working all depressed. But somehow the next 3 weeks I managed to change my attitude, I prayed to God (as I’ve always done) and tried to gain some hope (which I did). I managed to handle myself well in the hospital, became a little more enthusiast with the patients, smiling, trying to have a positive attitude towards them and the rest of the staff. I left all of my fears outside, tried to worry about the present and not the future. But today agh! When I realized that next week I was going to get my tests done, fear immediately came back inside of me, and though I’m trying to keep pushing forward, trying to keep myself positive and sane, it’s really hard. I ask myself, where’s my positive attitude? where’s my coolness? God and faith are all I have right now and I know that He’s right here with me, but I can’t help having all of this tormenting thoughts in my head, making me kind of paranoid. Anyways, don’t mean to scare you or kill your hopes, just trying to give you a little insight of what’s going inside my head (perhaps because I still have too many feelings about this matter stored inside of me).. I’ll come back later and tell you how tests go! KEEP PRAYING!!!
About a week ago, my wife was pricked by a needle that was left inside a supply closet unsecured hanging from a wire. I dont want to blame the ignorance and laziness of the nurse who left it hanging. But Ill get to my dillema. As a her husband I try to stay strong for her, we were planning to have kids, but I guess it will take another year to plan, and not only that I hate to see whats shes going through right now, I try to protect my wife and all times, but i feel so helpless right now. My prayers go out to all of you that have been victimized by a needle stick injury. God Bless.
BTW: the needle that it came from was a patient with hep C.
hey, I wrote here 4 months distressed after a needleprick injury. Just reading some of the experiences of some of the guys here gave me strength. Since then I took PEP, but stoppd on the 7thday, couldn’t tolerate the drugs. After 4 weeks I had an ELISA done and it was negative. I have had 2 more tests done and all have been negative. I hope it remains this way. thanks alot guys for your kind words at my lowest moments.