No gloves used during vaccine - Hep C or HIV concern?

[sarahtx]

Hello,

I went to my doctor's office today to get a routine tetanus shot.  I wasn't thinking  at all --- and then realized that the medical assistant who gave me my injection was not wearing gloves.  

She had the bandage that she was going to put on my shot site already opened and half on hanging off one of her hands (her hands didn't look clean and had some scrapes on them.  There could have been open cuts).  

My concern is the follwing:

1. Because she didn't wear gloves, if she was infected with HIV or Hep C, is there a chance that I might have contracted it from her.  

2. What if the bandaid had her blood on it before she put it on me?  Am I at risk?  

Just wondering if there should be a cause for

I think the needle and the syringe were clean, but I'm not pleased with this medical assistant's practices.  

Should there be a cause for concern here?

Thanks in advance for your help,
Sarah

[sarahtx]

Thanks Dr. Nicolson.

One follow up question for you.  

After the vaccine was administered to me, my arm was bleeding and there was an open cut.  She then put the half-opened bandage that was hanging off her hand (hands not clean & had scrapes on them) over my cut.

Given my particular situation, do you think there should be any reason for concern?  


Thanks,
Sarah

[Garth L Nicolson, PhD]

Without appearing overly paranoid, I would suggest to any health care worker that they first wash their hands before and after servicing you or anyone else for that matter.  In study after study of hospital personnel, washing the hands thoroughly before and after each patient with medicated soap and warm water reduced infections and other complications significantly.  You would think by now that they would get it right, especially since it is so simple to do.