Teak, Mike_No, FarFromPerfect Anyone

[garycleaver]

Hello, About two weeks ago I ran bare foot to the beach and down a pathway which which definately had sharp rocks, wood chips/splinters, etc... I even felt slight pain when walking over these items to the actual sand. No needles definately would have been there....After surfing walking up the beach I felt a slight pain sensation in my toe but didnt think anything of it. I didnt feel (object) or see anything in the sand when I felt the light pain sensation in the sand but I didnt really look, but obviously nothing was seen when walking on the sand. Afterwards I noticed a pin sized hole on my which punctured my skin and could bleed in the skin was pushed. My other toe can some light scrapes but no punctures which makes my think the occurence was just the rough environment (rocks, wood splinters) when running to the beach on the pathway and that I didnt feel the pain until coming out of the surf. But I cant stop from thinking that the puncture was caused by a needle walking up the beach. It is possible. It was 4:00pm and busy with people at the time, and is somewhat a family beach (good sign) so if it was a needle it would have been sitting there all day. I called the STD/HIV clinic and they said no need to worry as a needlestick in a beach environment becasue it cannot transmit HIV and the needlestick transmission occurrences usually occur immediately after drawing blood or sharing needles, etc... and that I didnt even confirm that I did indeed step on one that for those two reasons I have nothing to worry about. Should I be worried? Should I be tested?

Do environment needlesticks injuries such beaches pose no risk? Aside from maybe (tetnus or hepaptits) I know I know, I didnt even confirm I stepped on a needle but Assuming it was a actually a needle that I stepped on you would still say no risk due to the fact that it was likely sittting there all day? I worked as a surflivesaver on a neighboring beach and there were isolated reports of needles found but maining by retaining walls and not in the sand. Do needlestick transmissions usually only occur in a medical setting or in immediate needle sharing? Can I get your insight on why this is a no risk situation.

[farfromperfect]

Assuming that you had stepped on a needle (which is a big assumption), the probability that it has ever been in the veins of an HIV pos are low.  Less than 1% of the entire US population is infected.  Even if it had of been used on an HIV positive person, air almost instantaneously kills HIV virus.  It is a weak virus outside of the body, but a mad man inside the body.  You are fine.  You would do better to worry about sunburn, sharks, and checking out bikinis. You are fine.  Have a great day.

[garycleaver]

From your previous post, So these being occupational direct exposures and the infected numbers being so so so low... so a possible needlestick injury on a beach which would have somewhat different circumstances such as long exposure to the environment etc, which would have a close to impossible method of transmission. Is this correct as to why you stated "No Risk" Thanks Again...

[Teak]

Yes