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HIV+ blood in my eye from patient

Hello everyone,

I am a dentist and last Friday, the 22nd, I was working on a patient who is HIV+.  I had protective eyewear, but my carelessness, it was not securely placed over my eyes.  I felt splashes of what was blood and saliva hit my eye and immediately rinsed it out.  He had open cuts in his mouth.  I disregarded prophylaxis because I read that this type of exposure has a 1 out of 1000 chance of transmission.

A few days later, I have been feeling unusually tired at work and at home.  I spend most of the day craving sleep, when I am getting 8 hours everynight.  At first I was nervous of what happened, but now I can clearly feel my body feeling different aside from that.  My lymph nodes are slightly swollen.

I did get an antibody test for HIV two days later, but that won't show anything I'm assuming.  

My questions are:
Has anyone out there had the same experience?  Does the amout of blood and saliva dependent on risk for the eye?
Are these symptoms too early to deduce anything yet?  
What would be the best test to detect HIV and how long would I have to wait?



Thanks.


27 Responses
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Avatar universal
That is interesting, and I think that may be the case in the US...

or again, maybe it is a case of "I don't know jack" again. Over here, when you get your PCR test results... it just says, negative or positve.

There is no run down on numbers etc.
Helpful - 0
172023 tn?1334672284
Just so you know, PCR's are NOT done for occupational exposures.  You get a baseline antibody test, and a retest at 6-8 weeks.  That's the norm in the majority of the health care field.   You can elect to test later if you wish.

But PCR's are NEVER done as a test for HIV.  They are not approved for this use, and have an uncomfortably high # of false positive, which can lead to unimaginable anxiety and expense furthur testing.  
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Avatar universal
Never said I thought one could contract HIV through Oral actually the contrary has been stated many many many times by me.

What I have said is that I have contracted chamydia, through unprotected oral, despite what the experts say. Teak (I believe) came up and said that he agreed with that statement, despite what Dr. H. has stated before in the past. (thank you teak)

I also said, that if Dr. H is correct, then some how I had vaginal to penis contact despite the use of a condom. Because if that is the only way to contract Chlamydia, then that is how I got it. If I got it that way, and that is essentially the only way one can contract HIV.... then I am at risk for HIV....  That is what I said, and I typed in English format. If you would like it stated in Chinese, I can do so too.

So mike_no, I apologize also to you, if I typed too fast, made things unclear, mispelled etc....

I had 2 PCR's done for one exposure (broken condom) Boht Negative

and 2 pcr's done for the other exposure. One negative, other results pending.

It is my money, and trust me I can afford it.

But let me ask you, are you telling me PCR's are not reliabel, should I still be concerned? Because I was not, but now it seems that I should be. I am not clear on this at all.
Helpful - 0
188761 tn?1584567620
COMMUNITY LEADER
J,

You are 100 % on the right track, I think you should talk to some one who knows about HIV and not to one who thinks it's possible to acquire HIV out of an oral exposure and have done 3 PCRs for the same ..LOL !

J, chuck it !!!
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Avatar universal
Wow J,

Does this method work well for you? Truth is such devices are actually illegal where I am at. So I will have to rely on your information. It does sound like it has merrit though.

Such hostillity, on a "support" forum non the less.
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Avatar universal
Sorry BD, not going to divuldge that... there seems to be a anti wear/a/Jimmy camp going on.....

Must be my good looks, it often inspire jealousy.
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Avatar universal
WOW!!! An unstable headed person like yourself is talking about stability issues. Again, that's whhat I call ironical. HIV is a serious disease and jokers like you have just taken the complexity of real issues out of perspective.

As far as time for reflection you mentioned in another of your sage advice to me, I got something to offer to you - You don'y you get a hump doll, fill up the plastic vagina with some honey and have condom protected sex with Let's see if the honey enters your goddamn urethra. Make sure do it infront of the mirror. That will give you a real reflection of issues.

Remember, keep walking......
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
what is your field?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
What's witht the language?  Man you got some stability issues or something?

Weird.....  you seem violent too?  


Reg: "with regards to dentist they dont have sufficient information in school regarding communicable disieases,...."

The same could be said about my field, we don't get around blood too often, but it does happen. Especially with people that are on blood thining medications. In fact it happens so rarely essentially no one wears gloves, and virtually no one would know what PEP meds are about. I have maybe had 3 episodes of exposure via patient blood over 7 years. Only one of those 3 was there actually a puncture involved....   I didn't even report it, knowing what I know now... I would have done things differently.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I do not go about advising ppl dumb ass. What ever I write is correct information and no misrepresentation of facts. I talk from my mouth  and think from my head unlike you who talks n thinks out of his behind. You already said "Goodbye". Seems you don't know how to even stand by your words....Keep walking brother...
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
j_worried,

Thanks for your concern about my nuts....   They seem fine now, and I did get a positive result from the first test. I had a second test at a different facility on the following day, and it was negative.

I have taken the meds as instructed for a little over a week, had a 3rd test done, and I am waiting for the results. Hopefully it all came out neg.

Yes, I was concerned about HIV, due to the fact that so many folks say chlamydia can not be contracted via unprotected oral....  if that is the case then I had to have contracted it from a failed condom....

It aint like chlamydia just sneaks up from no where?!  So yes I had fears, to say they were unfounded....  I don't see how that is 100% correct. After speaking to the doctors here, that literally laughed at me when I said that I have been told that you can not get chlamydia via oral, I felt some what better regarding condom failure.

So

j_worried if my advice is stupid....  which I am not saying it isn't how do we know when someone else posts "gems of emperically proven information." Heck j_worried, who are you for that matter? What makes you qualified, what makes your information, Teaks, or mine any better than the others?

In fact there is a disclaimer about this forum that the information is not to be considered medical advice....   So honestly, if one did take the information that is on this forum, from non medical individuals... as medical advice, wouldn't that in itself be "stupid?"  Just a thought.....   wouldn't even giving advice when your not even a health care provider in the first place be stupid?  I mean, wouldn't that be like the blind leading the blind?  

Like I said just some thoughts.

BTW, I don't think I am the perfect person to give advice, I just think I am a person. By wich doesn't that give me the right to post here.... or do I have to have a merrit badge, or HIV etc before I can post?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
with respect to the dentist,please dont be harsh in giving your opinion to people who are anxios... I myself is a a medical student and of course I give respect to people in the medical field.... with regards to dentist they dont have sufficient information in school regarding communicable disieases, like medical students... spalshes in the eye poses a risk to all health care workers and even needle injury... but this are low risk, the CDC recomends prophylaxis treatment for HIV exposures of mucus membrane contact... but the risk is .03%  be aware of febrile illness within 12 weeks and be evaluated. And baseline testing at exposure and testing at 6 weeks and 12 weeks...
Please do have respect to people in the health care proffession
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I do not intend to be disrespectful of people who have a concern. Its even Ok to question to gain knowledge. However, tolerance does and should wear off towards people who feel they should advice when they themselves don't know anything. You had an exposure concerns. People told you pretty honestly that you did not have a risk. Your nuts may be hurting, you might have gotten chlamydia which is again very doubtful but you do not get HIV that way. That is simple information. Moreover, having your own mind riddled with irrationality, you find yourself a perfect person to give out decent advice to other worried folks. Well, you might think so but the information and advice you provide is indeed flawed and to an extent stupid. Again, not trying to disrespect you but you should yourself realize that every written word has a million readers and your information can act as a catalyst to misinformation. Kindly, refrain.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
So lets say I am wrong, I concede....  I am wrong... Dead wrong...

Does that jstify using disrespectful language?

Either way, here is a good write up on the subject.

Ta ta

http://www.thebody.com/content/art2508.html
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Avatar universal
Ok wear/a/jimmy,
you need to tech yourself some stuff about hiv, the tests before  blabbering nonsense out of your mouth. PCR's are highly sensitive for the the viral clades they are looking for. A DNA PCR is termed conslusive at 28 days for the viral clades it is looking for. A RNA PCR is termed conclusive at 2 weeks. However,  PCR's do have loopholes and it might  end up being false positive or possibly false negative(v.rare in case of recombinant or rare clades). That is 1 reason that they are not held conclusive stand alone tests. No matter whichever, virus clade a person might be infected with, he/she will reproduce antibodies and that is the only reason why it is only an antibody test done at the right time which is considered conclusive.


In a scenario where there is a possibility of infection where the sero status of the other party is unknown and so is the virus clade (i am not talking about hiv 1 & 2 here. More on lines of AG, BFetc), an antibody test is the best test to go for.

Hopefully, this brings your head out in real world and you are able to see things from a proper perspective. You baffle me. You are continuing on this forum giving advice to ppl when your dumb head refuse to u nderstand yourself that you had no risk. Talk of irony....
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Teak, one day you just may grow up....   but I doubt it. You can report me if you want, they can do as they want, but the bottom line is what I stated was fact, and you are a putz.
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Avatar universal
NOT to mention the HIV PCR TEST is COMMONLY GIVEN to those that have had occupational exposure. Keep reading Wood, you may learn some more.
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Avatar universal
You've been reported to MedHelp.
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Avatar universal
Well the FDA doesn't account for the world....   I think you voted for Bush, didn't you.

Where I am at, they actually do use stem cells....  enjoy your version of modern medicine.
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Avatar universal
Jimmy, if you don't know anything about testing it's best for you not to say anything.

http://www.metrokc.gov/health/apu/infograms/testing.htm

The FDA has not approved these PCR tests as ways to identify new HIV infections. The regular antibody test continues to be the most accurate and reliable way for people to know if they are infected with HIV.

FDA approved tests:
http://www.fda.gov/cber/products/testkits.htm
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
It put an end to mine....  does that mean I am no one?  Interesting quandry.....

Maybe I will consult with a physician regarding this...  Um Teak?  Oh wait that is right, your not a physician... otherwise I'd ask you. Run a long now, I think recess is out. Oh wait, you don't really teach, because I am sure you are not licensed as a teacher in the first place.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
He stated he took his base line test. A PCR test will not put the end to his worries or anyone else’s. A PCR test is not a stand alone test and needs to be confirmed with an antibody test.
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Avatar universal
I swear I don't trust drs, any of them. I would think a dentist has a friend who is a real dr. who could help. I would even think a dentist would know themselves how you could get a disease. I'm dissappointed in the medical system when a dr is on an internet forum asking people if they can get something from doing their job. What the hell is going on in the world. This too has depressed me now.
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Avatar universal
Actually if he is a small time independent, he probably has heard of OSHA guidelines, but doesn't care much.  

Any whoo

Why would you scrimp on the meds?

Take a HIV PCR test and that should be the end of the worries.

Good luck
Helpful - 0
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