Aa
hiv eyes, splash?
Hello,
Needed an opinion from an experienced member, can please give me an accurate read.
I am currently a medical student, working in an inner city hospital for my rotations. Yesterday and today, assisted/observed on a few autopsies. I am a bit concerned after today, wanted some advice if/before I go talk to an attending, someone at the hospital. To sum up, was in an autopsy, had on full protection (gloves, scrubs, shoe covers, half mask/visor in addition to my pair of eyeglasses I wear all the time - underneath).
Pretty much was observing, another student was removing some organs instructed to get a bucket (one which was filled with blood and some saline/water). I guess they were instructed to dump it into the sink at the base of the body (pretty deep sink). I was half turned away, with my back to the student - who all I had heard was him dumping the blood/water into the sink/drain pretty quick...I immediately got nervous because I was half-turning back around. I did not SEE any blood/water mixture, checked my shirt, mask and torso...did not see any sign of blood. I know I was wearing a visor, but it does not cover my entire face (it runs up to about the top of my forhead - designed to stop direct splashes I guess. I guess what my concern/question is, is it possible that since the blood/water mixture was being poured into the sink pretty rapid/quick, possiby some of it flew out of the sink, over the mask and into my eye? Am I just being really paranoid...would have to have SEEN blood/water hitting my eyes? I know I had a mask, but just nervous some of it could have gotten into my eyes by coming up over the mask (or in your opinion, is that just my imagination getting the best of me - I would have felt it or seen it coming?). Put it out of my mind, go get tested, go to hospital and tell story to get PEP? Would appreciate your help.
I kind of just want to bounce this off someone before I go talk to the hospital - if it just sounds like anxiety about working around large quantities of blood for the first time, or if it sounds like there could have been a real threat and I should possibly go look into PEP.
Thanks a lot.
Needed an opinion from an experienced member, can please give me an accurate read.
I am currently a medical student, working in an inner city hospital for my rotations. Yesterday and today, assisted/observed on a few autopsies. I am a bit concerned after today, wanted some advice if/before I go talk to an attending, someone at the hospital. To sum up, was in an autopsy, had on full protection (gloves, scrubs, shoe covers, half mask/visor in addition to my pair of eyeglasses I wear all the time - underneath).
Pretty much was observing, another student was removing some organs instructed to get a bucket (one which was filled with blood and some saline/water). I guess they were instructed to dump it into the sink at the base of the body (pretty deep sink). I was half turned away, with my back to the student - who all I had heard was him dumping the blood/water into the sink/drain pretty quick...I immediately got nervous because I was half-turning back around. I did not SEE any blood/water mixture, checked my shirt, mask and torso...did not see any sign of blood. I know I was wearing a visor, but it does not cover my entire face (it runs up to about the top of my forhead - designed to stop direct splashes I guess. I guess what my concern/question is, is it possible that since the blood/water mixture was being poured into the sink pretty rapid/quick, possiby some of it flew out of the sink, over the mask and into my eye? Am I just being really paranoid...would have to have SEEN blood/water hitting my eyes? I know I had a mask, but just nervous some of it could have gotten into my eyes by coming up over the mask (or in your opinion, is that just my imagination getting the best of me - I would have felt it or seen it coming?). Put it out of my mind, go get tested, go to hospital and tell story to get PEP? Would appreciate your help.
I kind of just want to bounce this off someone before I go talk to the hospital - if it just sounds like anxiety about working around large quantities of blood for the first time, or if it sounds like there could have been a real threat and I should possibly go look into PEP.
Thanks a lot.
really don't think I have anything to worry about...if I had a splash underneath/around the mask, I truly would have known it right? Apologize if it comes off paranoid...just as I pointed out, still new in the whole thing, starting out and definitely was a little anxious dealing w/ all that blood and stuff. Either way though, thank you for response...I guess I really would have to have realized/known if I had a significant splash to face, right?
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