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Author Topic: Needlestick  (Read 6130 times)

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Offline help6789

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Needlestick
« on: January 13, 2010, 03:09:18 pm »
To make a long story short. I poked myself while trying to "recap" a needle.  It came through the cap. Yes...I know "now"...your not suppose to recapp!  I made the cap fall off while in the process of throwing the needle away.  Stupid me...went to put it back on to be "safer" for anyone who might come in contact with the trash.
I know the person that "owned" the needle is a drug user. Although I do not know of his hiv status.
I know the needle had not been used in at least 3 days. (he had been gone for 3 days when I found it)
If this needle had been used by an hiv positive person to inject drugs and then capped,
would it still be able to infect me with hiv after not having been used for 3 days? 
I did have a 6 week test. Which was neg.  But the doctor told me that would just more or less tell me if I had hiv "before" the incident.  Not if I got it from the incident.    And yes I know I need to worry about the "Heps" as well. Just thought I would see what your feelings were on the hiv.
Thanks.

Offline Matty the Damned

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Re: Needlestick
« Reply #1 on: January 13, 2010, 03:22:44 pm »
HIV is not really a concern with a needle stick injury like this. The virus is fragile and degrades rapidly once outside of the human body. We're talking within minutes. After three days any HIV on the sharp will be well and truly inactive.

Even if you had stuck yourself in the manner you described with a freshly contaminated sharp, the likelihood of HIV being transmitted from such a minor jab is vanishingly small.

If you are very worried about HIV transmission and need some peace of mind, you should have an HIV antibody test three months (13 weeks) from the date of the needle-stick.

Of more concern in your case would be Hepatitis C, (HCV) or even tetanus. HCV is far more prevalent amongst injection drug users than HIV and is a more robust virus.  You should talk to your doctor about having an HCV serology and check that your tentanus vaccination is up to date. Please be aware that HCV antibody testing has a 6 month window period.

You might like to read our Welcome Thread which contains useful links to HIV testing and transmission information.

MtD

Offline help6789

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Re: Needlestick
« Reply #2 on: January 13, 2010, 03:39:37 pm »
Thanks for your quick response.

Do you agree with the doc that a 6 week test (1 day short of 6 wks.)
Would only tell me if I was infected "before" the incident.
That it would be to soon to tell me if (pos/neg) from the incident? 

I do plan on going for a 3month test as well.
But...Im so full of anxiety...and am trying to reassure myself.
I was hoping a 6 week test would tell me something. But...after he said that....

He also told me 6 monthes till all clear....not 3. Im the one that insist on the 3month one.  Thoughts? 

I was also tested for the Heps as well. And will again at the 3/6 mo. mark.


Offline Matty the Damned

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Re: Needlestick
« Reply #3 on: January 13, 2010, 03:45:54 pm »
Ok, the window period for HIV testing is 3 months (13 weeks in the US) not 6 months. Your doctor is wrong on that count.

In reality HIV sero-conversion occurs within 4-6 weeks of infection, so most who test positive do so well before the 13 week mark. Therefore, a 6 week HIV antibody test in your case will give a good indicator of your status, your needle-stick notwithstanding.

Given that you're anxious I would suggest you test at 13 weeks per standard practice. If that test is negative (and we've no reason to think it won't be) then you really don't need to worry about a 6 month HIV test.

MtD

Offline help6789

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  • Posts: 4
Re: Needlestick
« Reply #4 on: January 14, 2010, 03:41:13 pm »
What do you mean by "needle-stick not withstanding" ?   Do you mean the needlestick exposure would not show up in my 6 week test if it was going to be positive?  Sorry....just nervious and confused. 
I read alot about the 6 week being a good indication. And then when the doc.  said....the only thing it would tell me is if I were "already" infected "before" the stick. 

Would you be in the least bit worried over this if it happened to you?  Im freaking I think because the needle was capped....and no exposure to air....even if it hadn't been use for 3 days.

I will drop it after this.  And....Thanks again.


Offline Andy Velez

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Re: Needlestick
« Reply #5 on: January 14, 2010, 04:01:03 pm »
Assuming you test negative at 6 weeks then it's very likely you are going to continue to test negative.

Instead of trying to get an answer that only a test can give you, now you need to focus on other things in your life. That will make the waiting pass much more easily. And don't say you're too anxious to do that because I can tell you that response won't fly here.

I expect you to come out of this ok.
Andy Velez

Offline Ann

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  • It just is, OK?
    • Num is sum qui mentiar tibi?
Re: Needlestick
« Reply #6 on: January 15, 2010, 03:19:19 am »
help,

When Matty said "needle-stick not withstanding", he meant that he wasn't considering that scenario as it was not a risk. Hiv is not transmitted from needles left lying around.

And no, with what I know about how hiv transmission happens, I would NOT be worried if this happened to me. I might be worried about hep C, but hiv? NO. If you're worried about hep C, see your doctor. This is an hiv website.

Ann
Condoms are a girl's best friend

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"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Offline help6789

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  • Posts: 4
TESTING
« Reply #7 on: March 24, 2010, 01:57:51 pm »
If it has only been a weeks since I used a steroid cream on my elbows (rash)  and used this cream for a period of two weeks. Will this cause a problem with hiv testing?   The ointment was Clobetasol Propionate.  I know it is considered strong.



Offline Ann

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  • It just is, OK?
    • Num is sum qui mentiar tibi?
Re: Needlestick
« Reply #8 on: March 24, 2010, 02:01:42 pm »
Help,

No, your cream will not make any difference to testing.

Ann
Condoms are a girl's best friend

Condom and Lube Info  

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

 


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