Very superficial possible needlestick risk of HIV/HEPC

[rosalia25]

Hello.

Hope you can help me. I am a Community Nurse and visit patients at home. This morning I visited a 90 year old lady to administer her insulin. I took a needle out of the box and place it on the table, when I was going to attached the needle to the insulin pen I noticed that the safety paper was already opened and the needle part that connects to the pen was exposed. I am unsure if the needle was used before or if someone just opened it and left it in the box. I discarded it into the sharps bin and took a new one. After I removed my gloves I washed my hands and I noticed a minuscule superficial mark on my index finger (looked like dry skin), no bleeding/pain. I looked at the gloves carefully and they didn't have a puncture.
I am concerned as I am unsure if this really possess a risk. I don't know for  how long that opened needle was in the box or if anyone else from  team could have had a prick/scratch before. This lady is visited by many other nurses.
I am currently pregnant and scared that this could be a potential risk for HIV/HEPC.
Thanks for your time and help.

[rosalia25]

Will a superficial scratch be enough to contaminate the needle?

[rosalia25]

I mean not even reaching the depth of a subcut injection

[rosalia25]

Hello.
Thanks for your response. I doubt the paper lid came off as they always come well seal . I will definitely by reporting it to my supervisor tomorrow.  I did not see any blood in the  needle part that connects to the pen but I don't know if there was any blood in the part that enters the body as it had the plastic lid on.  I am more concerned about other members of the team getting scratch before me rather than the actual patient as she gets visits every morning by a team of 15 different nurses.

[rosalia25]

Thanks again for your help, really appreciated.

[mkh9]

Glad to help.

[mkh9]

Hi, well I would think you would have felt the needle stick for one thing. Also, you didn't see any blood from your finger at all so it doesn't sound like an exposure. I would report it to your supervisor that there was a bare needle in there. Did the needle appear to have any blood on it? If not maybe the lid just came off? If you did get slightly stuck but no blood was entered into your blood system you are okay as well. If you are very worried you could report it and get tested in about 3 months for both HIV and HEP C. But other wise it sounds fairly low. If you did get stuck it is not likely that a 90 year old lady would have either disease and also the risk is about 0.1% for HIV. It is higher for Hep C. But overall it sounds like you weren't stuck right?
mkh9