hep c concern

I am currently employed as a police officer.  About a week ago i had an incident that has worried me to death.  I had a foot pursuit with a subject.  The subject ran through a brushy area with lots of thorns and briars.  The subject got away from me that night.  I later got a report that he was in the area bleeding heavily from running through the bushes.  This is what scares me though.  While chasing him I got my legs cut up in the bushes as well.  The thorns cut me through my pants and left several small scratches on my legs.  Here is the kicker though, today I found out the subject has HIV and HEP C.  I am worried to death that the same bushes that cut him could have cut me.   I may just have irrational fears, but I am scared to death that I could have got HIV and especially HEP C from a thorn that cut him them cut me.  I am scared of infected my wife and family......am I just being irrational or do I have a real risk of HEP C and HIV.....my co-workers say im am being totally irrational

[can-do-man]

my co-workers say im am being totally irrational

I agree with your co-workers....... Be careful out there

cando

[copyman]

i know this won't help you much but what you describe is a possible scenario for transmission but highly UNlikely.  I think you will be fine. You can go ahead and get tested in a few months just for peace of mind but I can already tell you that you will be negative.

whoever says police officers have easy jobs should think of things that they have to go.  this post is just one minor example. other things like suspects biting them, spitting on them, etc etc. you couldn't pay me enough

[Trinity4]

Anything is possible but it's sounds unlikely to me because the same thorns that cut him would have to have cut you too.  You would have had to been chasing him very closely to know if those were the exact thorns that cut you and the subject got away so you can't be certain.

I don't know about HIV transmission, but HCV is contracted by the blood of an infected person getting into the bloodstream of the another person.  Operative word being bloodstream so even if the thorns that did scratch you contained the HCV virus a superficial scratch doesn't mean the virus will enter your bloodstream.  

Not trying to discount the fact that it may be possible but keep in mind healthcare workers have accidental needle sticks from those who have the the virus but do not ever become infected themselves.

Usually they recommend waiting around 3 months for a HCV antibody test to see if you have been exposed to the virus.  However, if you are experiencing too much anxiety about this have a HCV RNA PCR done in a couple of weeks which will show if the virus is actually present in your bloodstream.

They do not recommend changing your sexual practices for those in a monogamous relationship and HCV is not transmitted sexually unless rough anal sex is involved.

In the interim until you test, do not share personal hygiene items like toothbrushes, nail clippers, etc., but do make sure you give your family lots of hugs and kisses because HCV is not transmitted that way.

Good Luck and I think you'll be fine.
Trinity

[Trinity4]

Correction:  healthcare workers have accidental needle sticks from those who have the the virus but NOT ALL become infected themselves.

[R Glass]

Chances are very slim (almost none). The only way you are going to have peace of mind is to get tested. Your mind is probably going to torment you until you do. I remember when I had to be tested for HIV after being diagnosed with HepC. I thought no problem. By the time the results came back, I convinced myself I had it. All that worry for nothing. RELAX. Thank You for your service