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.
hi all, i have been worried sick about having contracting something, although i don’t think i did i was poked by a dental explorer and i felt the poke but there was just a little puncture, on the tool there was no blood just plaque and the patient was 90 years old.. is there any possiblity i should be worried? or am i just freaking myself out?
hi to everyone!
I’m very happy to tell all of you that I got my post 6 month HIV and Hep C test. Thank God it was all negative. To repeat my story, I was stuck by a suture needle from an HIV positive patient 6 months ago. I followed every protocol, took 2 types of antiviral drugs for one whole month and experienced all the side-effects..It was awful. Nauseated, bloated and loss of appetite, at times I also felt generalized body aches and muscle aches. But with the support of my family I was able to tolerate everything and of course with the prayers from my friends. For those who just got stuck or had any type of needle-stick injury just do what you have to do. I understand how scary it was, but we are all so blessed that we now have protocols to follow for this type of injury. Never give up and hang on to our faith in God…Godbless all of you!
I work in a Trauma ICU and I was emptying a ventricular drain bag via syringe and 18G needle. I had already gone in the bag a few times to drain and on my 3rd time and putting the needle into the port, the needle slipped and I poked my thumb with the tip of the needle. I immediately took off my glove and saw a dot of blood, went and washed my hand and milked the site for a few minutes and told my charge nurse. Pt came back negative for HIV but I just got the call today that he is Hep C positive. The occupational health nurse told me there is minimal blood with ventricular fliud but its still scary. Have to have multiple blood tests over a period of weeks to months. I know its only 1.8% risk of conversion but i’m still scared to death. All my prayers and thoughts go out to those who have been stuck and are worried and to those of you who have come back positive.
It’s nearly 5am, 15 hours since i received my 1st ‘needlestick’ injury by a dental handfile. Im sick with worry.
I was going to pick up the hoover in work when i felt something sharp prick me. My finger was bleeding so i checked the hoover only to see a dental handfile protruding from the hose of the hoover, i literally felt the blood drain from me. I went and told a girl in work, for her to tell me she had also been pricked an hour previous using the same hoover but hadnt spotted the file. We told management who told us dont worry we will be fine and shrugged us off. I was worried and so myself and the other girl headed for to nearest hospital for a blood test. It was not until after we had arranged our own blood test and 6 hours after the incident did management come back with protocol for us to follow. Anyone i have told keeps telling me dont worry. As the file was in the hoover we dont know when it was hoovered up and from what patient it came from. Im really shocked at the amt / how common stick injuries are amongst dental nurses. How long does it take for all the tests to come back i cant even remember what they said to me when they took the blood?
I would appreciate any feed back or support, im finding all this very difficult considering i have been given my notice for the end of august due to current climate.
hey i m a nutritionist , i was doing hemoglobin test with hemoglobin meter among children of 6-12 years as a part of the project work and i had done my own Hb test too it was a finger prick method . i pricked my finger and done the test first than after some time about 5 – 6 min i sat down for doing test of the children,
the disaster happen was that, that one of the girl so scared of pricking finger and was not standing stable and hence while squeezing out the blood from her finger it fallen on my pricked one m afraid that does the infection can spread through a pricked finger
I,m a male nurse and i got my first needle stick injury. I,m working in a community hospital,my story goes like this, I assisted the doctor in wound suturing and first the doctor injected anesthesia in the intradermal because the wound is not that deep,the doctor placed the syringe on the tray and i decided to recap it,not knowing that the needle got pop out in the cap/cover…and there it goes i got my needle stick injury,i milk it and squeeze it and blood came out,after a few seconds i washed it with water,,luckily i dont know where the patient is….should i go for blood test? PLEASE I NEED A REPLY IN THIS POST I NEED ENCOURAGEMENT………
I decided to come here to share my story/vent/talk about my course with others who would understand. The other night at work (3 nights ago) I was giving an insulin injection to a patient who is HIV+ and hep C+. I honestly don’t know what happened, I was tired/overwhelmed by the work load I had that night and was in a hurry because I was behind. After I injected him, I accidentally poked the side of my hand before I used the safety. It was enough to draw a dot of blood on my hand. I professionally left the patients room and said “i’ll be back in just a minute.” I was in such shock that for a split second I contemplated not telling anybody. That thought quickly left my head though and I told the charge nurse. She had me squeeze the area, and wash my hands thoroughly. I went into the bathroom, and watched my life flash before me. I wanted to cry, but didn’t. I pulled myself together, and called the OUCH hotline. The course of action I had to follow was to get a blood sample from my patient to confirm his HIV+ status. I was nervous to explain what happened to the patient, I didn’t want him to feel bad (crazy I know). The charge nurse ended up telling my patient what happened before me as I just stood there, still in shock. He said he was so sorry that happened to me, but in the past 4 years he has been tested his viral load came back undetectable. That eased my mind a LITTLE. His blood was sent off and I recieved a phone call about an hour later confirming he was HIV+. The next course of action was to head to the ER for a dose of antiviral medication. I received the first pill of Truvada 3 hours after the needlestick. I reported to employee health after work where they took blood work (HIV, hep C, CBC, and AST/ALT) for a baseline. I was also given 7 doses of Truvada and told to report back to employee health in 7 days so they can retest my blood (because Truvada is hard on the kidneys..they need to monitor creatnine). So right now, on day 3 post needle stick..i’m feeling the effects of the Truvada. I’m not sure if i’m just being a hypochondriac, or this medication is really as bad as it seems. The first day I through up multiple times and couldn’t eat. I started having muscle pain, dizziness, and sweating. I was doing the dishes and felt like I was going to pass out, my ears were ringing. I was SO cold the first night I had uncontrolled shaking..I couldn’t get warm. Most of these are signs of lactic acid buildup, which is a common but serious side effect. I think the worst side effect is the extreme fatigue. Luckily its the weekend and I’ve been off work since the incident, because i’ve been sleeping 12-16 hours a day. Just when I start to feel better, its time to take another dose. I feel good for about 2 hours a day, and the other 22 hours I’m feeling some side effect. I know the altnerative is WAY worse..I just have to keep reminding myself of that. All in all, I HONESTLY think i’m okay. It was a small needle used for an injection, not to take blood. The patient had an undetectable viral load, is compliant with his medications, and I started the antivrals right away. Its just better to be safe than sorry. I know this is a long post so if you have read this far..thanks for reading/listening to me. I can talk about it with my parents and boyfriend and they are SUPPORTIVE, but only fellow healthcare workers know exactly what i’m going through/how i’m feeling. I’ll be updating
I did a venesection on a known Hep C carrier today. All went well till I put the whole outfit in a large sharps container. The tube clung to my hand at th top of the container and its rubber tippped needle penetrated my hand. I bled. I did not tell my work or the patient, and I cannot. I will however see a doctor in another area of the state ASAP and tell them what happened. I wonder what will become of me? Seems like I have one of the most at risk events that I have read on this site so far. No gloves even at the stage I was stuck as i thought I had safely secured the sharps at that stage. I had forgotten the large bore canula adapeter needle on the tubing for blood samples. If I can get through this then maybe I can give hope to others. Will let you know.
I just got off from clinicals, and I had a needle stick. There was no open wound, but I felt the penetration! I washed my hands afterwards! Please let me know if I can still catch the bug????
Hi there, I am a nurse who works in a busy Emergency Dept, and almost everyday I love what I do! Unfortunately, I am a massive stress head and about a week ago I was just about to give a patient her insulin injection, and just as I uncapped it, I dropped the needle straight onto the floor. Ofcourse the needle was no longer sterile, so without thinking I took my gloves off, picked the injection off the floor and accidently pierced the full length of the needle through the fleshy part of my palm. The needle never actually reached the patient. But now I am a little bit worried that I could pick up something yucky from the floor, as virus’ such as hep c can live on surfaces for 16hrs plus!!
Can you please tell me I am just being unbelievably over the top and that there is nothing to worry about. I have been stressed since it happened, and cant eat or sleep and now I have started smoking again, after I had quit for 2 years
P.S I realise that my story by no way compares to the stressfull needlstick injuries that all of you on this forum have been exposed to. I wish you all the very best luck with your future blood tests. You guys have to remember that nurses and medical professionals are a very special breed of people and it sucks that you should have to go through this. xx
Hello, I am a dental hygienist. 10 years now. I aM 5 months pregnant with a little girl and have a 3 year old son. In dentistry, we put all our instruments into an ultrasonic filled with water then take them out, bag them, and sterilize them. Well, I was taking the instruments out of the water with a basket and one was sticking out and I grabbed it just right. I removed my glove, washed my hands, and squeezed my finger. No blood came out so I went about my day. The next day I noticed a sore bump on my finger so I guess it did stick me. I reported it and called my obgyn doctor. They are going to run all the proper tests but I guess there is nothing I can do now? I checked all the patients charts for that day (30) and no one indicated having HIV or hep. What are my risks because it didn’t puncture enough to bleed? Also, the fact that it was in the ultrasonic rinsed the blood off but didn’t kill any germs, did that help my risk? I would imagine it may help with viral load since there was no visible blood on the instrument. What is the risk to my baby? That is what is killing me, the fact that someone just entering this scary world could have a life threatening infection . And it’s my fault. Can’t stop crying. My husband thinks I’m crazy. Going to my obgyn dr tomorrow to talk about it because I’m so stressed and that’s not good for the baby either. Uggggh
Got the result today of the patient, he is negative of HIV. Thank you Lord, let’s continue to pray that all results that we are waiting for come negative. God bless.
4/30/11 9:00am I got stuck by a a tuberculin syringe after giving heparin shot to my patient with history of hepa b and c , after i slid the safety lock , it slid back and stuck my left thumb even with double glove causing it to bleed. I immediately washed it with running warm water and soap and applied alcohol swab after, my supervisor asked me to do incident report and told me to seek medical help. I went to an urgent care and I’ll be having a series of blood test, the Dr. gave me combivir and viracept as prophylaxis and the side effects are really bad (headaches, stomach upset, loose stools, weakness). awaiting HIV 1-2 result done from the patient to make sure he doesn’t have it, which the RP consented. Please pray he will be negative for HIV at least I could stop the PEP and this causes me mental and emotional stress. WE are protected by God’s grace.
hi kasbirun
there are small chances of getting the HIV..but there is higher percentage of getting HEP B or C if your patient is positive for that. in our hospital it is part of needlestick injury protocol to test the subject for HIV and Hepatitis series. its good that ur taking the antiviral, that will really help a lot for the HIV, you just have to be patient for a month of the bad side effects. check this website http://www.nursingworld.org/FunctionalMenuCategories/MediaResources/MediaBackgrounders/NeedlestickPrevention.aspx
so you can learn about the needlestick prevention protocol. if u can read my story…i guess we have the same type of source…but its a blessing that i have the negative results..i will again be tested for HIV and Hepatitis on my 6 month post injury…Godbless you and we will include you in our prayers…
Hi all, My unlucky day was 2 wks ago when i had a needle stick from a patient while aspirating a lymph node. His blood was immediately taken and was +ve for HIV. I was immediately started on Zidolam combination and is currently undergoing the nustiest month of my life time. I have never tested neither the pt nor myself for the viral hepatitis becuse for me, they can be tackled. What are my risks and success %ages?
hey everybody,
i work with homeless people and yesterday while taking a jacket from the washer i was stuck with a sharp object presumably a needle. i was wearing gloves but i got stabbed in my middle finger right hand.i did milk the wound(hardly any bllod came out) and washed it with soap and water and then an alcohol swap. got the hep b test done at a&e and i was covered for that. my worry is that firstly i dont know if it was a needle ( although with the clients i work with it probably was) and secondly if it was a needle i have no idea if the needle was infected or how many people could have used it. its the not knowing is killing me. i have to wait 3 months to find out if i have any reason to be as worried as i already am as the hep c test will take that long!!!!
only got engaged a few weeks ago and now sickened that this is all i can think about. my thoughts are with everyone awaiting test results.
I am a patient, not a nurse. And, I have not had a needle stick. But, I have begun to worry about something that happened a few weeks ago. I went to the doctor to have a cast removed. The saw they use to cut the cast cut my skin in two spots. The cuts were somewhat superficial, but did draw a bit of blood. They put some bacitracin on one of the spots. I didn’t really say anything not wanting to sound paranoid. But, later I began to wonder what the chances are that I could contract something from that saw. I am pretty sure they don’t disinfect it between patients. I know it is relatively unlikely that someone with hep c or some other blood-bourne disease would have been cut shortly before me, but who knows.
Just a post of YAY, For those with Negative results, Great news! It gives me comfort to know as I had my 3rd hep vaccination today, and will be returning in 3 weeks to have another blood screen to see where my anti virals levels are at! then another wait for results on any contamination of these dreaded diseases. I’ve noticed all postings have different procedures, so would like to add mine is Australian.
Please keep us updated, as i feel this site is a comfort and support as we are all in the same boat! Good Luck to all, and remember a positive mind can help get a negative result! x
Hi to All:
To repeat my story, I was stucked by a suture needle from an HIV + patient….took kaletra and combiver for a month….the worse time of my life because I’m so nauseated and bloated all those time….but with the help of God He gave me all the strenth and courage to face everything….with the support from my family and friends… and last week my 16weeks post-injury had a HIV test….it is NEGATIVE….they say its the critical period the 12 weeks and 16 weeks post-injury tests….but all is NEGATIVE..so have faith guys…as long as you follow all the protocol……i guess we will be safe….and never stop believing and praying to our Lord Jesus Christ….Godbless you all!! Prayer works!!!
I got my first needlestick today and i’m in shock i didnt tell the doctor or the other nurse about what happen. i’m so scared i know the pt is postive for HPV is there anyway i can get that by a needlestick cause the needle come directly from her viagina it was used for locate ans need some infor
Hi to all:
To Jacob Villaflores
I guess you have to have hep B vaccine if u haven’t got one…that’s the only think i know for your case..
http://www.nursingworld.org/FunctionalMenuCategories/MediaResources/MediaBackgrounders/NeedlestickPrevention.aspx
check out this website too…
for New Grad…you have to finish those medications and undergo series of tests..and continue to pray…i have the same situation as yours so far all the testing are negative….ill keep you posted for the results of my next tests…this will be our lifetime lesson…be more extra careful everytime…at all times…Godbless!!!
I just started my first job out of nursing school two weeks ago. I was so excited and focused! Then…. I got a needle stick straight through my thumb from an HIV+ patient. I started the meds, and feel all the horrible side effects we all dread. I have to take them for a month, and now I am worried these side effects are going to interfere with my ability to do my job. Between the side effects, my new found paranoia, and extreme embarrassment, I really do not want to go back to work tomorrow. I wish I could just rewind and tell that surgeon to cap his own needle!
hi i was pricked with an iv cannula with a patient having liver cirrhosis secondory to chronic hep b infection last night..what should i do?????? the patient just passed away…what i did when i was pricked was to milk it and washed it right away…i fell depressed about it…hope to hear from you soon…
Had my first test already, a HIV DUO test at exactly 28 days (4 weeks) after the possible incident. It came back as negative. I’m still going to follow this up with another test at 3 months.
What I’m confused about is, some doctors say this result is conclusive and no further testing is warranted whereas others still say that “any negative result before 3 months post-exposure is extremely encouraging but not definitely conclusive”.
Hope everyone is well.
I have read all the stories on here, I am also in your shoes, I have noticed that alot of people that have posted has not reposted any more info on their status, please do so. HemoRn you said that the source patient had a history of HepC but the blood work came back with HepC negative. I thought you always had the virus once you contract it? I was stuck by a 25g hollowbore needle on an unsuccessfull blood drawing attempt after I pulled the needle out of the patients arm. The needle went about 1/4 inch through the padding of my finger and when i looked at it you could see the path the needle went. The patient has a history of HepC. I have had everyone say that I am at low risk because I didn’t get the needle into the patients atery or vein. However the needle was inside the patients skin and though small logically there was a small amount of blood on the needle. Still waiting on the blood work. How do we continue to do our jobs after this scary life changing moment.
So, my hep C RNA PCR test was negative at 3 weeks post-needlestick. I retest in mid April. If the first PCR test test is negative 3 weeks out, is that pretty accurate? Just curious to see if anyone has some knowledge and experience with these tests
When I was a dental assistant decades ago at UofW DECOD program, there was a possible Hep exposure (unknown type) via blood spray, and they had all staff that worked that day get the vaccinations and tests, whether you thought you had been exposed or not. “But I was wearing gloves” “I didn’t have any skin breaks” “I wasn’t with that patient” Nope. Not worth the risk. Get the vaccinations for the ones that you can, get the tests for the ones that you can’t. Everyone was clean, it wasn’t the patient’s fault there was exposure, sometimes accidents happen. Better safe than sorry, and this is a teaching program for dentists….I hope they all learned a lifetime lesson – a blood event WILL happen – how will you handle it?
To all those exposed, bless you and your families, please try not to stress, it will only weaken your immune system further when you need it at it’s strongest right now. Take strength from the prayers and survivals of others. You will come through this a better person for the experience. Take a deep breath. Now take another. Go live.
I work as a correctional nurse for 5 months now. A month into the job I was giving a known HCV positive Inmate his interferon injection (SQ injection with Insulin needle used) the needles snap back once the plunger reach the tip. As I was giving the injection and once the needle snapped back I felt something wet hit the inside of my nostril.Too my surprise some medication had sprayed out and sprayed me in the nose. I let the Inmate leave and then I went straight to the rest room and rinsed my nose with water. I know chances are slim but I can’t deny this is considered an exposure. I feel like an idiot because I did not report it being new I was just scared and to be honest I was in denial and I told myself I would be fine. Now months later I still live in fear about possibly having Hep C. I am going to get tested next week finally after coming to the conclusion that I need to know and after having RUQ pain for a few months now (maybe It’s all in my head) I need to know. I am so scared at times I tell myself If I did get something I could not go on. Do you think my chance in contracting Hep C from medication spraying in my nose after injecting a Hep C positive person are high???? I can’t sleep and now I feel so stupid for not reporting it!
I have a relation to this blogs…. I was putting on the cap of a needle while cleaning
off a tray set up after an extraction I had been poked but no blood had came out of the puncture of my sskin. I had squeezed it and no blood would come out! So am I going to be okay or do u think the needle made it to my blood stream? What do u guys think? I am scheduled to go get all my tesgingsnext thursday I am very very scared. I have been stressed out.
What do u all think?
@ surgery resident
lolz i hope all goes well for you
m a surgery resident too and guess what i wonder if i do the pcr or not
cz even if i do it and it comes up with a red flag
i cant afford to get treated with peg
and well hiv testing just doesnt happen here
what to talk of treatment
we just got prayers… i hope they are enough to save my skin
and all of you who are trying to help the ailing humanity
Amen
to all
just had my 6weeks post injury test…all negative..tnx God…will wait for my 12weeks post injury..pls. continue to pray for all of us. to Nurse…don’t be afraid to report it..you must report it and so necessary testing will be done..and lesson learned never recapped needle. Godbless..
Im a newly registered nurse and is having my iv completion in the ER.I just got prick by a needle while i was recapping it. The patient is suspected of having leptospirosis or hepatitis.I didnt have the courage to report to the office, i got an immunization for hepa b but im very terrified..I m thinking that any day from now im going to have the disease..
I am a 5th yr Gen Surg Resident and stuck myself with a Hep C + needle after injecting local (27 gauge needle) about 3 1/2 weeks ago…I am scared and hate this feeling…I have been having a burning sensation on my skin and occasional right upper quadrant pain….My hep C RNA PCR test results come back tomorrow…I am scared to death but hope God will help me through this.
On February 11th 2011. I was about to give a dental local anaesthetic. I inserted a needle (hollow bore) into the patient about 1-2 mm into his gums when he moved and I was jabbed by the needle tip. The needle went about 1-2 mm into my finger tip, caused bleeding. I stopped what I was doing, bled out the wound under running water, covered with a plaster and reported to supervising member of staff. We asked the patient all the relevant questions, which he was happy to answer: Have you ever injected drugs/are you an intravenous drug user – no. Have you had sex with anyone who was an intravenous drug user – no. etc. To which all the questions his answers were good (i.e. reduced the risk). He reassured us that he was Hep B, C and HIV negative. He is a married man, in his early 60s who used to donate blood regularly before his heart attack (about 8 years ago he had a heart attack and was put on medication for it, so he had to stop giving blood). I checked his notes and there was nothing about any blood borne viruses etc. The medication he is on for his heart attack says that it can’t be prescribed to anyone who has ever had liver impairment/hepatitis etc. so I think he won’t have Hep B or C. He consented to having a blood test done (with the details being sent out on Monday 14th February 2011). I’m still waiting on the results of this patient’s blood test. I hope everything turns out negative for him. What do you think about this risk?
Thanks.
@scared surgeon, Thank you for your words and agreed accidents happen and for a reason, Just feeling exhausted with the week and The brave face. But am being positive and hoping for the best possible outcome for myself and all in same position. good luck ! and you are all in my thoughts EVERYDAY!
@ OT nurse
a needle after local… well hopefully nothing will happen cz the chances are way tooooooo low
trust me
@ kimberly
there isnt unfairness in nething
i truly feel for u
i had similar feelings for the patient i operated upon and everytime i entered his room
but it wasnt his fault
it was an accident that had to happen to me
so be it… being scared is fine, being tearful i guess isnt
love ur children
hugg them twice more and id pray you come up clean
My wife is an houseofficer yesterday she got needle pricked from an old man suffering from liver cancer and hep C she squeezed the blood out.. and went to seniour doctor they said do nothing now and wait 20 day and check for anti HCV test then…i wonder is there anything we can do now i am so scared we recently got married…
is there any advice Please post ….
Hi all! Im feeling your pain! This morning i got a needle stick from a presumably ivdu!
I am a mother of 2 and as I left for work this morning, I drove around to the front of my house and decided to put a bag of rubbish from my car into my bin that was outfront awaiting collection!
Pushed it in and felt a prick! Thought nothing of it and drove off, As I looked down at my finger it was bruised and with pin prick and bleeding! I think I may of sucked it!!??? Anyway I decided to drop my baby of at childcare shes 3, and go back to my bin and investergate, I pulled out my car rubbish from my council bin to find a bag full of suringes discarded in my bin by a passerby! I live in a lovely suburb and thought how could this happen!!! Iv’e since been to my doctors and started the hep b vaccination , base blood test and tetnus shots and now have to wait a month for my booster, and then another boost before final outcome! So please all IVDU (drug users) please consider others with your actions as my family is turned updside down from your thoughtless actions and I may have been given a life sentence! My babies need a mum!! Scared and tearful!!!
Oh my I am feeling for you all!!
My situation is similar had a needle stick from a 30g needle post injecting local for a cannula, the guy had tattoos (which by the way everyone said to me were not considered a risk factor) but nothing in his old notes to indicate any other risk factors, so when I reported my needle stick and followed all the proceduers I was not too worried. Now just over two weeks later I am told that the guys bloods have come back hep c+.
I am freaked out I will admit and although I know there is a low risk of converting from my type of needle stick the wait between tests 6wks, 12wks, 6mths, 12mths is very stressful.
Now I am doubly freaking out as I have a sore neck, throat, nausea, muscle aches. What does this mean? Could just be a cold? Should I see the staff health about this?
Hey, what happened in your case re the aches and pains? I have had a very similar experience and am freaking out with worry and anxiety. Around ten days ago I sustained a needle stick injury to my left thumb from a Hep C +ve patient. As it was a subcutaneous insulin syringe, I’ve been told that my transmission risk is very low. The patient, however, is extremely sick..waiting for liver transplant… and I suspect a high loaded virus infection carrier- which I believe increases the transmission risk( still waiting on this blood result ) On day five post exposure I developed flu like achey symptoms. My hip joints, neck, and shoulders were killing me. I contacted Occ Health and safety nurse at my work place who told me symptoms of acute Hep C never show up before six weeks post exposure, and who suggested I had probably picked up another virus, and was freaking out without good reason. I am paranoid that I’ve got this thing, and I’m afraid the aches have done nothing but convince me of it. Any thoughts?
well i am not going to do any testing right now
cz if God forbid its happening
i cant do anything about it…
all i can say is that God protects me
i have faith in Him
and well lesse at 3 months what news i have to give…
i hope its good…
stay safe people
and stay blessed…
It’s scary. It’s not only scary… its VERY scary.. everything, all of this. It’s happened to me. (you’ll see my story if you scroll up) I remain hiv negative, thank God. However, I’ve been having sharp terrible liver pain after I drink alcoholic beverages. I’m not a heavy drinker. I drink very occasionally. I never had this pain before until after my needle stick attack occurred. I haven’t gotten tested for hep c. I had my baseline test results for the big 3, and all came out negative. Now I just don’t know. I’m just scared and I need to get tested for hep c. This pain is scaring me. God bless you all.
http://www.nursingworld.org/FunctionalMenuCategories/MediaResources/MediaBackgrounders/NeedlestickPrevention.aspx
http://www.nursingworld.org/FunctionalMenuCategories/MediaResources/MediaBackgrounders/NeedlestickPrevention.aspx
To all, Jess, Scared Surgeon and Doris Gosen, pls. check this website, this might help you with all your concerns and queries. for those from other countries, i don’t know if your government or hospital follows the same protocols, especially if it involved financial constraints but information on this website might guide with your next step. To all who has a needlestick injury it is so important to get tested for all HIV, hep B and C. initially and then followed up test 6weeks, 12 weeks and 6 mos post injury.
We need to be strong for ourselves and our family. And I do really have faith in prayers…Let us continue to pray for one another. Godbless us all!
My daughter was stuck by a needle from a patient that she cleans for. The patient throws her old used needles everywhere and my daughter went to pick up something, and low & behold, she got stuck. She’s a wreck. She went to the emergencyroom and started the meds. They want her to also take a shot that will make you sick & can possibly cause her other problems. The patient refuses to take a blood test to see if she has any of the Hep’s or HIV. My daughter doesn’t know what to do. She has 3 kids that she’s raising on her own. Now that the health dept. is involved, they won’t ok the shot unless the patient has a positive Hep or HIV test result. What can she do? I feel awful for her. It’s like having a death threat, does she have it or not? What a terrible thing to have to go thru. I don’t understand how the patient wouldn’t want to take a simple blood test. Any suggestions? thanks
Well, i am a resident in general surgery
today doing a Prostatectomy i got a catgut needle go through my glove and hit me on the index finger
we kept working for about an hour afterwards and later when i removed the glove i couldnt really findblood on the skin, but the index finger portion of the glove had got torn and i had tied the tip of the gloves in a knot and kept working. (you cant ask the patient’s relatives to get another pair of gloves, as the hospital provides nothing)
at that time i dint really bother about this but now i am wondering
our hospitals are goverment owned and in a third world country there are no protocols
no modus operandi for such things, and neither can u ask for a baseline or the associated things
i dont know, really what are my chances, yet i have faith that God is witness to everything
and He will not put me through Hep C because i dont think i can carry the burden of fighting it
my father has chronic hep c and we couldnt afford to treat him with peg interferon because finances are scarce here. i wonder if God forbid i catch it at my age (27) wonder where will i land
anyways i just hope God be my Protector and help me and save me
wishing all the others, going through this trauma like me, the best
After a hep c positive needle stick do you need to wait 3 or 6 months for results?
Hi everyone. thank God for this website. I got stuck with a suture needle from a HIV positive patient. Now taking Kaletra and Combiver. Initial tests of mine are all negative. I’m waiting for my 6 weeks tests. It really scared the hell out of me. The source is Hep B and C negative. Thank God for that. Anyone whose taking the same AV meeds? Hope to hear some positive stories with the same scenario. Godbless us all!
Worried like the rest of you..
I had clinicals today for my EMT class and I was asked to transfer a pt blood from a syringe to the vacuum tubes. The blood was drawn from an IV. I put on a brand new needle and pricked myself as I was removing the cap. Being a nervous EMT student, I just went ahead and put the needle in the vacuum tube and the blood automatically entered the tube. My question is, did the pt blood automatically go through the needle when I accidentally pricked myself, or did no blood enter my finger. What are my chances or exposure? I am assuming I am not covered by the hospital since I am not an employee, so where should I go to get tested in 3 months? Urgent Care?
Thanks
I just did the SAME EXACT thing doing a clinical as a paramedic student tonight (thus why I’m researching the topic).
I however reported it immediately, I set the syringe and everything down and walked straight to the sink, degloved, and SCRUBBED.
The vacutainers or vacuum tubes are just that, sealed under a a vacuum that so that it sucks the blood into it. Your hand/finger is not going to do that.
With that being said…I opted not to get my blood drawn tonight and get my tetanus booster.
I was “admitted” to the ER, refused all care, and “discharged” just for their protocol and my schools protocol purposes. I don’t want to be treated in the ER though because I don’t want the bill!
I just had blood work done about 6 months ago and was all good, and I’ve had my HEP B vaccinations so I’m not super concerned.
I think I will get blood work later this week by my regular doctor though and will be able to find out the pt’s blood test results later in the week as well.
I got my first needle stick injury a week ago whilst working in the ED. The patient is HIV -ve, hep B -ve but hep c +ve. It is probably the most stressful thing ever. I know the odds are in my favour but all you read in the net are the stories of those few who were infected. anyone got some positive stories or more reinsurance from their infectious disease departments
I am promoting a movie called Puncture starring Chris Evans. Its in part about a nurse injured by a dirty needle. If you dont mind me asking…. we would love to have you come to our Premier. Where do you live? Are you near Houston?
3 month update but really at 4 months, I had my blood drawn it was negative yeah for me and my family now just again at 6 months, 9 months and 12 months
SOS…………………….!
hey my name is suma, iam studying medicine in india, today some mischieves had kept syringe needle in the class room and i accidently got pricked , on close examination, i found out that there was no blood content in the syringe, i dont knw wat is the guage of the needle, but all dat i can tell u is i had a very small prick on my left thumb, and less than 1 drop of bloodcame out, i freaked out. im crying, dont knw wat to do….? plz help me out.should i have to take any anti retro viral drug as a prophlactic measure? when should i get tested for hiv and hep-B? and IAM A KNOWN TYPE1 DIABETIC AND IAM ON MY INSULIN. PLZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ TELL SOMETHING…..!