Nurse friend exposed to HIV?

[tonyvid]

I have a nurse friend who is a Dialysis(sp) specialist - she had a needle stick injury a couple of days ago even thought she was double gloved, whilst doing an HIV patient. It wasn't a "fresh" wet needle but one that had been used earlier. They have put her on Kaletra and Combivir which is making her feel very rough at the mo. Do these drugs stop the HIV from taking hold or just restrict its progress? They have told her that it is a minimal risk but have to do the treatment - I, personally, would be stting bricks at this point

Does anyone have any knowledge of this sort of thing?

[miniman]

According to my wife (who did her PhD in HIV stuff), they are usually given to people who are already infected. If someone isn't infected they will reduce the liklihood that they will get infected. But she needs to take them for the full month and they are nasty, as she has already discovered.

[Mr Beaumont]

HIV doesn't last long outside the body, so if it was a while since the needle was used I think she should be ok.
Must be a horrible situation to be in, hope she gets the clear.

[Rach*]

HIV has a very very short life outside of the body, I'm sure infected needle stick accidents are treated with the drug as a prophylaxis.

All the best for your friend, yes I would be bricking it even with such a slim chance of catching it.

[Neil_H]

Best wishes to her, can't imagine what she must be going through.

[tonyvid]

Ewwww, she is one of the most clumsy people I know, there is no way I would let her stick a needle in me so I suppose there was an air of inevitability about it - it makes me feel really sick.


Let's just hope the virus had popped its clogs before it got near her. She is actually a specialist HCA and gets about £16k pa, small beans for such risks

[Alfa_75_Steve]

Lets put it this way, I wouldn't be slipping her one without heavy duty protection.....

[Gun]

I saw a hospital/casualty fly on the wall documentary a few days ago and this cropped up a couple of times, nurse came in having pricked her finger on a needle she'd just used to draw blood. The nurse who saw to her then proceeded to prick her own finger moments late on a suture needle.

They said that the risks of contracting anything from the needle were very slim but the fear is the worst part, here's hoping it all ends well.

[tonyvid]

Alfa_75_Steve said:

Lets put it this way, I wouldn't be slipping her one without heavy duty protection.....

That is something that has occured to me....

[tonyvid]

Rach* said:

HIV has a very very short life outside of the body, I'm sure infected needle stick accidents are treated with the drug as a prophylaxis.

All the best for your friend, yes I would be bricking it even with such a slim chance of catching it.

I suppose it must be a reasonably common event and they are well versed in the treatment. Medical staff, Plod, all sorts must get exposed at some point.

[ytrebil]

Did she tell you all this BEFORE or AFTER you slept with her? :|

In all seriousness, I wish her the best of luck!

[ytrebil]

Oh and BTW - my gf said that something like this was on BBC 1 the other morning. Apparently not uncommon!

[space1999]

She would have been given what to do when she was trained plus there are therastist out to help her. BUT I feel for her, being a dental nurse and needle stick injuries are taken seriously!

[catmartin]

Can think of nothing worse than getting HIV. And you aren't given the full all clear for two years after I heard?

[Steamer]

catmartin said:

Can think of nothing worse than getting HIV. And you aren't given the full all clear for two years after I heard?

Really?

I thought it was a couple of months at the most.

[Ganglandboss]

Steamer said:

catmartin said:

Can think of nothing worse than getting HIV. And you aren't given the full all clear for two years after I heard?

Really?

I thought it was a couple of months at the most.

The multi-storey car park at my old works was riddled with smackheads. One of my colleages was working on a wall mounted light fitting; as he took the diffuser off a needle fell off and hit his hand. He went to A&E, they took blood and gave him hepititis jabs etc. They can give you a good idea early on but you do have to wait a while for the full all clear. I don't know the exact period but you are right; it is months, not years.

[Steamer]

Ganglandboss said:

Steamer said:

catmartin said:

Can think of nothing worse than getting HIV. And you aren't given the full all clear for two years after I heard?

Really?

I thought it was a couple of months at the most.

The multi-storey car park at my old works was riddled with smackheads. One of my colleages was working on a wall mounted light fitting; as he took the diffuser off a needle fell off and hit his hand. He went to A&E, they took blood and gave him hepititis jabs etc. They can give you a good idea early on but you do have to wait a while for the full all clear. I don't know the exact period but you are right; it is months, not years.

OOoooooo I hate feckin junky scumbags that leave their needles around - or even worse 'hide' them.

There were some needles left in parking space in town, I called the council and after various attempts to find the right person it still took them over two weeks to collect and dispose of them

But yes - must only be weeks or a couple of months before they can tell because thats how long they ask you to leave it after youve had unprotected sex before they test you... and the results are back within two weeks So I've heard....

[tonyvid]

Thanks for all your replies, it is more for my info than hers

ytrebil said:

Did she tell you all this BEFORE or AFTER you slept with her? :

Well, this happened on Friday, unless she snuck through the letter box and had a bounce while I was asleep it shouldn't be an issue

[stew-S160]

hope she's ok Tony.

[tonyvid]

stew-S160 said:

hope she's ok Tony.

Thanks mate, I think it's going to be a long month of feeling really rough and worrying her head off.