Aa
Concerned
Dear doctors,
Recently I had some blood tests done. Unfortunately I noticed that when the nurse took the blood from me he was only wearing one glove.
With his ungloved hand he touched the needle before taking the blood.
He also touched the under side of the gauze the side that he used to press onto the open cut left by the needle and the plaster he put onto the cut, he touched the part of the plaster that actually goes onto the cut
I'm worried because this happened within the HIV area of the hospital where they treat and take blood from people with the desease. Therefore it's highly likely that the person who got there blood taken before me had HIV
Also he was the nurse that took blood from everyone in that area of the hospital.
I guess my main concern is that he could have got someone else's blood on his hand when he applied pressure to someone else's cut (i.e if blood soaked through the gauze onto his fingers when he used it to apply pressure to their cut)
And then transferred it to the needle, gauze or plaster he used on me
Just to add, even though he wore one glove, he did leave the room with it on, touching the door etc with it and didn't change it and also touched the needle, gauze (side that went on the cut) and plaster (the part that goes on the cut) with this hand also
This all happened in the England
Do you think I should get PEP or be tested due to this?
Many thanks
Chris
Recently I had some blood tests done. Unfortunately I noticed that when the nurse took the blood from me he was only wearing one glove.
With his ungloved hand he touched the needle before taking the blood.
He also touched the under side of the gauze the side that he used to press onto the open cut left by the needle and the plaster he put onto the cut, he touched the part of the plaster that actually goes onto the cut
I'm worried because this happened within the HIV area of the hospital where they treat and take blood from people with the desease. Therefore it's highly likely that the person who got there blood taken before me had HIV
Also he was the nurse that took blood from everyone in that area of the hospital.
I guess my main concern is that he could have got someone else's blood on his hand when he applied pressure to someone else's cut (i.e if blood soaked through the gauze onto his fingers when he used it to apply pressure to their cut)
And then transferred it to the needle, gauze or plaster he used on me
Just to add, even though he wore one glove, he did leave the room with it on, touching the door etc with it and didn't change it and also touched the needle, gauze (side that went on the cut) and plaster (the part that goes on the cut) with this hand also
This all happened in the England
Do you think I should get PEP or be tested due to this?
Many thanks
Chris
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
None of this makes any difference. There is no "what if" or "did you really understand" thought that can come to your mind that would change my opinion or advice. Stop asking about it. This is not a hand-holding service for people who cannot or will not accept such strong scientfic evidence and reasoned reassurance.
This thread is over.
This thread is over.
I should also mention that that particular nurse's only job was to take blood samples from people so he took my blood very shortly after taking someone else's blood
Does this or the question above make any difference to your answer?
Many thanks,
Michael
Does this or the question above make any difference to your answer?
Many thanks,
Michael
Sorry I just read through your answer again and I just want to be sure that I was clear as I'm not sure I was
I wasn't really worried about anything the nurse may of had himself, I was worried that he may have got some blood from the patient before me on his ungloved hand and then transferred that blood to the needle, gauze or plaster he used on me.
As it was the HIV unit of the hospital it is highly likely that the person who had blood taken before may have had the disease.
Would this still mean there's no need for PEP or testing?
Sorry to ask so many questions I just want to be sure
Many thanks,
Chris
I wasn't really worried about anything the nurse may of had himself, I was worried that he may have got some blood from the patient before me on his ungloved hand and then transferred that blood to the needle, gauze or plaster he used on me.
As it was the HIV unit of the hospital it is highly likely that the person who had blood taken before may have had the disease.
Would this still mean there's no need for PEP or testing?
Sorry to ask so many questions I just want to be sure
Many thanks,
Chris
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Just forget it.
Thanks for the reply,
Unfortunately the nurse did forget about the alcohol wipe I even spoke to him about it.
Is there any reason I should worry about this or can I just forget it?
Many thanks,
Chris
Unfortunately the nurse did forget about the alcohol wipe I even spoke to him about it.
Is there any reason I should worry about this or can I just forget it?
Many thanks,
Chris
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum.
Nobody in the world ever caught HIV or any other blood-borne infection by having blood drawn, as long as a needle was not re-used. The reasons health workers wear gloves when drawing blood has nothing to do with protecting the patient from something the health worker may have, and it is not because the environment may be contaminated. It is done strictly to protect the health worker from infections the patient may be carrying.
As for the alcohol wipe part (below), my guess is that it was done and you didn't notice or have incomplete memory about it. Such wiping is so automatic and routine that I have difficulty believing it didn't happen. But if it did, there would be a slightly elevated risk of an infection at the needle site due to skin bacteria -- but no risk for HIV or other blood-borne viruses.
There is no chance you caught any blood borne infection from the events described, no need for testing, and for sure no need for PEP.
Regards-- HHH, MD
Nobody in the world ever caught HIV or any other blood-borne infection by having blood drawn, as long as a needle was not re-used. The reasons health workers wear gloves when drawing blood has nothing to do with protecting the patient from something the health worker may have, and it is not because the environment may be contaminated. It is done strictly to protect the health worker from infections the patient may be carrying.
As for the alcohol wipe part (below), my guess is that it was done and you didn't notice or have incomplete memory about it. Such wiping is so automatic and routine that I have difficulty believing it didn't happen. But if it did, there would be a slightly elevated risk of an infection at the needle site due to skin bacteria -- but no risk for HIV or other blood-borne viruses.
There is no chance you caught any blood borne infection from the events described, no need for testing, and for sure no need for PEP.
Regards-- HHH, MD
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
See above.
Also I forgot to mention. Everytime I've had blood taken in the past the nurse has always wiped the area were the needle is going to go with an antiseptic wipe before inserting the needle. He didn't do this
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