Hi, I posted this on the hepatitis forum too, i work in the healthcare industry and i was stuck this past week from and lancer ( needle to check blood sugars ) tht was in the box and either the lid came off or someone put a dirty one in the box by accident, and i stuck my finger when putting my hand in to get a new one...I am freaking out thinking i caught something, my charge nurse reassured me that noone had hep, or hiv but i am still scared, i also heard though that hiv doesnt live ling out of the body, is that correct? And if it is could someone get it from a needle even if it has been dried on it for hours or days? Thanks alot, i also looked over all our patients charts again and it doesnt list anyone as having anything infectious, they are all elderly and they all have pretty much the same things, like CHG, DIABETES, DEMENTIA, ECT....thanks again.
Michelle

usually when a health care provider gets stuck, they are started on meds right away to prevent HIV from establishing itself in the host. this is usually very very effective. i am not sure why they didn't react more to your incident, but i would look into it further as you can never be too careful. even if it was a + needle you have a 1/500 - 1/8000 chance so that is pretty low. i really wouldn't worry too much but would talk to someone in charge and at least document the incident ok?

usually when a health care provider gets stuck, they are started on meds right away to prevent HIV from establishing itself in the host. this is usually very very effective. i am not sure why they didn't react more to your incident, but i would look into it further as you can never be too careful. even if it was a + needle you have a 1/500 - 1/8000 chance so that is pretty low. i really wouldn't worry too much but would talk to someone in charge and at least document the incident ok?

I think the reason why they didn't start her on HIV meds is because as she stated she works with elderly people, probably in a nursing home. The people in these types of places have a lot of other problems to worry about besides HIV and most of them are so old (80+) that they can't get out of bed and dress themselves, much less have sex. So if any of them were HIV positive, the nursing staff would definitely know about it, because along with being very old and fragile, they would be on their deathbed from HIV complications. It is true that normal, healthy young people can live for many years with HIV, but do you think a 75 year old grandma would be able to go on living after having had HIV for 10 years or more, which is probably how long it's been since the last time she's attempted to have sex? I don't think any nurse working in a old folk's home would have to worry about catching any life-threatening diseases from their patients.

yeah that makes sense! so i have to agree that she is not at risk, not that i thought she was at risk at all. thanks for the clarity. i feel like a dumb butt. how are you doing?

OMG!!! Thanks so much for your replies, i have been sweating all day at work freaking out like the OCD person that i am....I also talked to a docter who told me the chances are very low and also they would have in their charts if they were carrying any disease ect....and i looked in all their charts and seen nothing other than the normal things for the elderly, 80+ year olds, again thanks alot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!