Author Topic: Scratch in Supermarket (Read 6427 times)

ladyjane · « **on:** January 01, 2009, 02:28:52 pm »

I am at my wits end with worry - I am a mother of an 18month old baby. I took him to my local hospital a few days ago with a fever.

After being at the hospital I noticed he had a 1cm cut/scratch at the base of his finger, just above the webbing. This was fresh but done earlier in the day - was not bleeding.

I started to panic because the nurse had put the pulse machine finger clip on the same finger and I was worried that there might have been blood on it from a previous patient as these clips are not disposable.

I am worried that my baby may have been exposed to something this way.

Is there any chance of this? If there was blood trapped in between the clip where air cant get the virus wouldnt die as easy? Also perhaps something on the actual clip scratched him because he was hysterical at the time.

I have visions of this clip being used on a bleeding patient and then used on my baby.

Please please help, Im driving myself and everyone around me in sane.

Thanks.

RapidRod · « **Reply #1 on:** January 01, 2009, 02:34:53 pm »

There is no way possible for your baby to be exposed by an O2 meter. HIV is not transmitted by environmental surfaces. Take the time to read the transmission lessons. The link is found in the "Welcome" thread.

ladyjane · « **Reply #2 on:** January 01, 2009, 02:37:56 pm »

I understand that the risk would be low, but if there was blood trapped in the finger clip device do you think it could remain infectious (along the same lines of blood in a needle can remain infectious due to it being airtight?

RapidRod · « **Reply #3 on:** January 01, 2009, 02:39:50 pm »

Reread my reply. There is no possible way your baby was exposed to HIV. Period.. No but, or what ifs..

ladyjane · « **Reply #4 on:** January 01, 2009, 02:51:53 pm »

Thanks Rod. I appreciate your fast response. I only wish I could actually truly believe it within myself - but I suppose thats all part of the problem with people like us who post on here, its the little what ifs that seem so big - sort of like our brain is like looking at a tiny grain of sand under a microscope and seeing a planet.

The reason I am in the state I am in is because I was exposed to unsafe practices by the pathologist at the same hospital (he took blood from me with no gloves and did not wash his hands hand. Half way through the procedure I had to stop him because he had blood on his hand that wasnt from me). Ever since then I have this extreme fear of anything to do with the public health system. My baby had had a fever for 3 days, and was not well and I avoided taking him for that long just because I couldnt handle going there because I knew THIS (what I am doing now) would happen. I ended up doing it and was quite ok until I saw the cut on his finger. I immediately felt that total dread feeling all over my body and sent myself into a complete panic. I have tried to be logical but it just feels too overwhelming... I am sitting here writing this looking at my baby just crying thinking something has happened and he has been exposed to blood.

At least I can remain anonymous here. What I would really like to do is go to the hospital and ask them - but then I will look like some escaped lunatic.

RapidRod · « **Reply #5 on:** January 01, 2009, 02:56:54 pm »

The person that did your blood draw didn't need to be gloved. The only one at risk was them, not you. If there is something wrong with your child don't be stupid and ignore the childs care because of your phobias. It would probably do you some good to seek the help of a mental health professional.

Ann · « **Reply #6 on:** January 01, 2009, 03:05:06 pm »

Jane,

The risk isn't "low", it's non-existant. The only thing your baby might get in his cut is a bacterial infection.

And you're not going to get infected with hiv from a pathologist's hands either.

Hiv just is NOT transmitted in these ways. No way, no how.

Ann

ladyjane · « **Reply #7 on:** January 01, 2009, 03:48:57 pm »

Your time is appreciated.

I just wish it would sink in - maybe I need to bash my head against a brick wall for it to do so.

ladyjane · « **Reply #8 on:** January 01, 2009, 03:50:59 pm »

Also, Rod -

I definately disagree with you that the pathologist did not need to be gloved - he did, per universal Infection Control not just per common sense.

Andy Velez · « **Reply #9 on:** January 01, 2009, 04:16:29 pm »

No, you don't need to bash your head against anything. For one thing your baby needs you with your head unbashed. What you do need to do is to stop indulging in this orgy of "what ifs." If we had even the faintest doubt about the situation you have described we would tell you so. Our responses are based in HIV science whereas your anxiety is all about feelings and not science. Feelings are not facts and you have nothing in fact to support your concern.

Take a breath and get on with your life. I will only add in my experience there is nothing like being a new parent to stir up every anxiety and worry possible about a baby's health.

This is NOT an HIV situation. Period.

ladyjane · « **Reply #10 on:** January 02, 2009, 10:11:50 pm »

Thanks Andy. I appreciate your reply - you are very clear in your response.

Im hoping you may advise me on one thing.

I have spoken to a friend who is a nurse at the same hospital about the sitution... Ironically this has made things worse. In an attempt to make me feel better she told me that the nurse who tended to my baby used to work overseas for ten years with HIV/AIDS. When she told me this I wanted to be sick.

I am a hundred times worse now and worried that she might have had blood on her hands when she touched my son (and the cut on his finger when she put the finger clip on for the pulse machine. I worry because Im thinking that in her field of work with HIV she would be much more likely to have had an occupational exposure. Due to the previous incident I had with the pathologist having his blood on his hand I keep thinking that the same thing may have happened with her.

I am in a complete spin with this and I am on the verge of losing control.

Can you please help with the above info -

If she had her own blood on her hand and touched my son's finger which had a cut (not fresh but done earlier in the day) then could this transmit?

RapidRod · « **Reply #11 on:** January 02, 2009, 11:12:03 pm »

NO RISK.

Anyone who continues to post excessively, questioning a conclusive negative result or no-risk situation, will be subject to a four week Time Out (a temporary ban from the Forums). If you continue to post excessively after one Time Out, you may be given a second Time Out which will last eight weeks. There is no third Time Out - it is a permanent ban. The purpose of a Time Out is to encourage you to seek the face-to-face help we cannot provide on this forum.

ladyjane · « **Reply #12 on:** January 03, 2009, 01:26:10 am »

I understand your policy re. repeat questions but this wasnt a repeat question - it was a different question which I have asked after find out other information.

I dont mean to offend, I am trying to get help.

Ann · « **Reply #13 on:** January 03, 2009, 09:39:18 am »

Jane,

Even if she DID have blood on her hands, even if the clip had blood on it, it would not have put your child at risk for hiv.

Hiv is a fragile, difficult to transmit virus that is primarily transmitted INSIDE the human body, as in unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse. It is NOT transmitted through touching or from the surfaces of objects. It just won't happen that way.

When your son is a teenager, make sure you teach him about condoms and how to use them. If you do that, you won't ever have to worry about him becoming infected.

Use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, correctly and consistently, and you will avoid hiv infection. It really is that simple.

Ann

ladyjane · « **Reply #14 on:** January 07, 2009, 04:32:35 pm »

Hi - I know that this will probably sound stupid to you but it is very real to me...

I was at the supermarket yesterday. When I left the counter and was carrying the bags a corner of a box in one of the bags scratched me on the leg through the bag.

I looked at the bag and saw something red on it. Im terrified that it was blood on the bag and by the box scratching me, it has transferred HIV to me through the bag to the scratch.

Can someone please advise of the risk - Andy or Ann you have been particularly wonderful.

Andy Velez · « **Reply #15 on:** January 07, 2009, 04:57:01 pm »

The bag or whatever scratched you could have been dripping with HIV+ blood and it still wouldn't have been a risk. HIV is a fragile virus and is absolutely not transmitted from environmental surfaces.

You need to read our lesson on Transmission. There's a link to it in the Welcome thread which opens this section. You get all of the basics there.

You're worry needlessly but since this epidemic is going to be around for a longtime to come, you need to become better informed.

Cheers.

Ann · « **Reply #16 on:** January 07, 2009, 05:57:26 pm »

Jane,

I've merged your new thread into your original thread - where you should post all your additional thoughts or questions. It helps us to help you when you keep all your additional thoughts or questions in one thread.

If you need help finding your thread when you come here, click on the "Show own posts" link under your name in the left-hand column of any forum page.

Please also read through the Welcome Thread so you can familiarize yourself with our Forum Posting Guidelines. Thank you for your cooperation.

Get a grip woman.

Did you have unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse with this supermarket bag? Is "supermarket bag" an euphemism for some man you met on the street?

We cannot help you with your extreme hiv phobia here. Please seek counselling.

Ann

Forums Index

Welcome

Welcome to Do I Have HIV?

Author Topic: Scratch in Supermarket (Read 6427 times)