Aa
Can I get HIV from a needlestick and not realize I've been pricked?
Hi,
My situation is kind of weird: I definitely have a bit of OCD, and a tendency to over-think things.
I work in a second hand store, sorting clothes. Last week, I came across an old jacket. I proceeded to check the pockets, and found a grocery bag with unknown contents, and a meth pipe in the other pocket (yikes!). I threw the whole thing--jacket and all--in the trash. At the time, I was worried about needle sticks, but I was able to determine that nothing eventful had happened.
However, earlier this week, I started getting paranoid again (I have a pretty high aversion to germs--lately it's been going down, but it spiked again). And just tonight, I remembered the "meth pipe incident" and thought "what if I got stuck?" What if I really DID get stuck with a needle, but was so scared of the horrible reality, that I just convinced myself that any pokes I felt were not worth worrying about? (At the time, I managed to get through the day and even kind of joke about finding a meth pipe in the jacket (which was super gross). And I went through the week not worried about it.)
Ultimately, my questions are 1) how long can HIV live in a syringe/needle?
2) if I had actually injected myself with an amount of HIV-positive blood, what are my chances of actually getting HIV?
3) if the worst-case scenario had actually happened (please tell me what the worst-case scenario would be, if I haven't already covered it), what are my chances of getting HIV, and would a person know without a doubt that something bad had happened? What I mean, is, it wouldn't be an event that I could easily brush off, could it?
4) if I had stuck/injected myself in an already open wound (hangnail or deeper injury), the pain would be negligible (ie I would have brushed it off), but I’m at a higher risk. Right?
Thank you very much for your time.
My situation is kind of weird: I definitely have a bit of OCD, and a tendency to over-think things.
I work in a second hand store, sorting clothes. Last week, I came across an old jacket. I proceeded to check the pockets, and found a grocery bag with unknown contents, and a meth pipe in the other pocket (yikes!). I threw the whole thing--jacket and all--in the trash. At the time, I was worried about needle sticks, but I was able to determine that nothing eventful had happened.
However, earlier this week, I started getting paranoid again (I have a pretty high aversion to germs--lately it's been going down, but it spiked again). And just tonight, I remembered the "meth pipe incident" and thought "what if I got stuck?" What if I really DID get stuck with a needle, but was so scared of the horrible reality, that I just convinced myself that any pokes I felt were not worth worrying about? (At the time, I managed to get through the day and even kind of joke about finding a meth pipe in the jacket (which was super gross). And I went through the week not worried about it.)
Ultimately, my questions are 1) how long can HIV live in a syringe/needle?
2) if I had actually injected myself with an amount of HIV-positive blood, what are my chances of actually getting HIV?
3) if the worst-case scenario had actually happened (please tell me what the worst-case scenario would be, if I haven't already covered it), what are my chances of getting HIV, and would a person know without a doubt that something bad had happened? What I mean, is, it wouldn't be an event that I could easily brush off, could it?
4) if I had stuck/injected myself in an already open wound (hangnail or deeper injury), the pain would be negligible (ie I would have brushed it off), but I’m at a higher risk. Right?
Thank you very much for your time.
You would have notulen. Also only a few % of drug injector are hiv+. Also hiv is only activeren for a few minuten or a lot of blood should have been in it which is inactive in an hour aprox. If insected with enough hiv+ blood chance is 0,3%.
2 Comments
I told my dad about it, who is pretty smart. he said that kind of thing happens to police officers when the do pat-downs. in short, he said not to worry, so I'm not.
Thank you both for your time.
Thank you both for your time.
There is only one case where in 1990 a prison guard was stepped with a fresh syringe full with hiv+ blood of some one with end stage hiv(so a very high viral lood) straight in his vein and the guard was positive after testen. but eventhough the guard was very unlucky the chance was below 1% of getting it in that situation.
A summary of your post is you know you didn't get stuck, but are wondering if you did get stuck later on. Perhaps one on one therapy can help you deal with these conflicting thoughts.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the HIV Prevention Community
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
Can I get HIV from surfaces, like toilet seats?
Can you get HIV from casual contact, like hugging?
Frequency of HIV testing depends on your risk.
Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) may help prevent HIV infection.
