Hello,
I managed to stick myself on a faulty insulin syringe when I went to remove the cap... The needle itself had pierced the hard plastic cap, and the plastic wrapper.
The wrapper itself was sealed, but after I tested the packaging with water, it indeed had a hole in it. IE , this was a manufacturer defect
My question is, I got the needle from a box of needles at the drug store. while I dont think the needle was deliberately tainted, I'm concerned that while others were rifling around in the box to get their insulin syringes they themselves could have pricked a finger on it.
Upon examination, there was no blood (mind u after the fact, so it could have come off in me) on the need, no injection event (I wasnt touch the plunger, and the needle itself was capped ( protuding from cap!) and jammed, although it could have come off in the stab itself
The needle did not appear to break my skin, and nor did I bleed. although there was a small reddish spot there , or a hole, that has remained now for a few hours. also some reddish discoloration around the area as well (hard to see).
the needle self is a 29 guage insulin syringe.
The way the box is open, the needles face download, so I dont think someone would have reached to the bottom of the box to feel around and prick themself... however they could have pulled it out and replaced it at a later date after pricking themselves...
am I at serious risk here for hiv? I am in the philippines and access to PEP here is not available, I will need to book ASAP back to usa if necessary for it?