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needle ***** from heroin and hep c user
how long will hep c last on a needle, I was cleaning a rental room and got a slight needle *****. I know the renter used heroin and has hep c. Two days after, I have a slight bump and minor itch. How long will hep c and even aids last on a needle. needle has not been used for at least two months.
If the needle has not been used for at least two months, any Hep C virus that might have been on that needle would have died off. It doesn't last nearly that long on surfaces in open air, more like 16 hours on average and longer in warmer conditions but not over two months.
See a doctor - immediately - you don't (I assume) know if your renter had other things also (HIV HepB etc) [NB: HIV is more 'correct' than AIDS]
There are drugs you should possibly be taking NOW to minimise the chance of HIV developing.
It sounds like you have picked up something off the incident, but it could be something really minor that was on your skin before being pushed into your body. And that could be something as trivial as cleaning product that triggered a bit of inflammation.
It comes down to whether there was any liquid still in the needle (which seems unlikely) - or if everything had dried completely (which seems much more probable) - see below...
---
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), HCV can survive on environmental surfaces at room temperature for at least 16 hours but no longer than four days. The more fragile HIV virus, in contrast, only lives on surfaces for a few hours, while influenza viruses may survive for several hours up to about a day.
...
Viability outside the body, however, can vary widely depending on conditions. Viruses survive longer on hard surfaces such as stainless steel and less time on soft surfaces like fabric. HCV can live longer at cooler temperatures and prefers humidity to dry conditions.
HCV survives longer in liquids than it does when dried on surfaces.
...
In a liquid environment, HCV was detectable for up to five months at lower temperatures.
---
http://www.hepcresources.org.nz/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=107&Itemid=257
There are drugs you should possibly be taking NOW to minimise the chance of HIV developing.
It sounds like you have picked up something off the incident, but it could be something really minor that was on your skin before being pushed into your body. And that could be something as trivial as cleaning product that triggered a bit of inflammation.
It comes down to whether there was any liquid still in the needle (which seems unlikely) - or if everything had dried completely (which seems much more probable) - see below...
---
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), HCV can survive on environmental surfaces at room temperature for at least 16 hours but no longer than four days. The more fragile HIV virus, in contrast, only lives on surfaces for a few hours, while influenza viruses may survive for several hours up to about a day.
...
Viability outside the body, however, can vary widely depending on conditions. Viruses survive longer on hard surfaces such as stainless steel and less time on soft surfaces like fabric. HCV can live longer at cooler temperatures and prefers humidity to dry conditions.
HCV survives longer in liquids than it does when dried on surfaces.
...
In a liquid environment, HCV was detectable for up to five months at lower temperatures.
---
http://www.hepcresources.org.nz/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=107&Itemid=257
If the person had HIV there is even less chance of it surviving on a needle after more than two months as it dies almost instantly on a surface and definitely has a shorter life than HCV. So I don't see a risk of HIV here either.
Hepatitis C Virus Can Survive in Syringes Up to 2 Months under Favorable Conditions...
http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/2010_conference/croi/docs/0223_2010_b.html
http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/2010_conference/croi/docs/0223_2010_b.html
Bill - interesting that the virus can survive inside syringes up to that long...particular implications for those sharing needles. It seems the conclusion indicates that sharing needs with removeable tips presents a greater risk - I can see that. It's the virus inside the syringe that's the issue and you swap tips but you haven't avoided the risk.
How do you figure that translates to life of virus on the needle tip itself and needle pricks for life of survival?
*************************************************************************************
The study evaluated 2 types of syringes:
A low-volume insulin syringe with a permanently attached needle holding 2 microliters of blood;
A higher-volume tuberculin syringe with a detachable needle holding 32 microliters of blood.
Exposed cell cultures showed varying levels of HCV infectivity.
The likelihood of finding infectious virus in low-volume syringes decreased rapidly:
No remaining viable virus after 1 day in syringes stored at 98ºF;
No viable virus after 3 days in syringes stored at 72ºF;
No viable virus after 7 days in syringes stored at 40ºF.
For high-volume syringes, the pattern was less consistent, with the likelihood of finding infectious virus falling until day about 7, then fluctuating for several weeks before eventually dropping toward 0 by day 63.
At 40ºF, viable HCV was detected in about two-thirds of low-volume syringes at day 1, about 25% at day 3, and about 5% at day 7.
At the same temperature, viable virus was detected in nearly all high-volume syringes at day 7, about half did at day 35, and approximately 5% at day 63.
Even at the 2 higher temperatures, a small proportion of high-volume syringes still contained infectious HCV at day 63.
The titer or amount of viable HCV in low-volume syringes showed an initial rapid decrease followed by a slower decrease, becoming undetectable between days 2 and 3 at 98ºF and by day 3 at 72ºF, but at 40ºF remaining at a low level at day 7.
The virus titer in high-volume syringes declined during the first 1-2 weeks, then leveled off and remained at a low but stable level at all temperatures
Conclusion:
Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that survival of viable HCV is dependent on syringe type, as those with detachable needles "appear far more likely" to transmit the virus.
"Lower temperature preserves HCV viability in low void volume syringes more than in high void volume ones," they continued. "HCV and HIV survival in low void volume syringes show similar time course, but HCV appears to survive longer than HIV in high void volume syringes."
How do you figure that translates to life of virus on the needle tip itself and needle pricks for life of survival?
*************************************************************************************
The study evaluated 2 types of syringes:
A low-volume insulin syringe with a permanently attached needle holding 2 microliters of blood;
A higher-volume tuberculin syringe with a detachable needle holding 32 microliters of blood.
Exposed cell cultures showed varying levels of HCV infectivity.
The likelihood of finding infectious virus in low-volume syringes decreased rapidly:
No remaining viable virus after 1 day in syringes stored at 98ºF;
No viable virus after 3 days in syringes stored at 72ºF;
No viable virus after 7 days in syringes stored at 40ºF.
For high-volume syringes, the pattern was less consistent, with the likelihood of finding infectious virus falling until day about 7, then fluctuating for several weeks before eventually dropping toward 0 by day 63.
At 40ºF, viable HCV was detected in about two-thirds of low-volume syringes at day 1, about 25% at day 3, and about 5% at day 7.
At the same temperature, viable virus was detected in nearly all high-volume syringes at day 7, about half did at day 35, and approximately 5% at day 63.
Even at the 2 higher temperatures, a small proportion of high-volume syringes still contained infectious HCV at day 63.
The titer or amount of viable HCV in low-volume syringes showed an initial rapid decrease followed by a slower decrease, becoming undetectable between days 2 and 3 at 98ºF and by day 3 at 72ºF, but at 40ºF remaining at a low level at day 7.
The virus titer in high-volume syringes declined during the first 1-2 weeks, then leveled off and remained at a low but stable level at all temperatures
Conclusion:
Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that survival of viable HCV is dependent on syringe type, as those with detachable needles "appear far more likely" to transmit the virus.
"Lower temperature preserves HCV viability in low void volume syringes more than in high void volume ones," they continued. "HCV and HIV survival in low void volume syringes show similar time course, but HCV appears to survive longer than HIV in high void volume syringes."
I would wonder how you could trust the fact that the last time it was used was truly 2 months ago anyway? Even though the percentage of those who get HCV via a needlestick is very low personally I would wait a few weeks and then get tested, just to be sure then you can have peace of mind.
Depends on the circumstance. If the needle was in a park or a garbage bin...there's no history. In this case, it appears the room had been vacant for awhile? It has a history. Just the same...if in doubt, get tested.
Trish, I hadn’t pondered the mechanics of this. I simply saw the article last year and filed it away for reference.
Probably more germane to this context is the apparent difference between IV and subcutaneous injection. The rate of infection through IV drug use has been pretty well documented and is thought to be rather high; while the CDC suggests occupational needle stick accidents have a rather low 1.8% rate of disease transmission.
http://tinyurl.com/4xnesja
I suppose that’s in part due to sheer volume of viremia transferred, but I’m only guessing and don’t know that for sure.
-Bill
Probably more germane to this context is the apparent difference between IV and subcutaneous injection. The rate of infection through IV drug use has been pretty well documented and is thought to be rather high; while the CDC suggests occupational needle stick accidents have a rather low 1.8% rate of disease transmission.
http://tinyurl.com/4xnesja
I suppose that’s in part due to sheer volume of viremia transferred, but I’m only guessing and don’t know that for sure.
-Bill
I just found it interesting, Bill. We talk about needle tips, etc. Back in the day, we used to swap needle tips thinking that was sufficient. Clearly, it wasn't and isn't.
The article itself was trying to account for the high incidence of IV drug infection and seems it's trying to pinpoint vectors of infection - with safe injection programs in mind and I guess designing them to be most effective.
The article itself was trying to account for the high incidence of IV drug infection and seems it's trying to pinpoint vectors of infection - with safe injection programs in mind and I guess designing them to be most effective.
Good advice to get tested ,if ever being stuck with a needle when the past use is an unknown.
My daughter in law (technically she was my son's girlfriend at the time) stepped on a syringe randomly on the street in her college town. She was told by the med profession that theses viruses can live for months in a syringe, and to undergo the HIV treatment and be tested for the Hepatitises at the appropriate intervals. She did as she was asked but
By all means get tested. Sometimes the patient will benefit from Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) if performed in a timely fashion. Additionally, baseline testing can rule out preexisting infection; this might be valuable for an employer to protect against future litigation.
--Bill
--Bill
Post Exposure Prophylaxis: I tried that one time but I had to let Mr Winkey warm up before I could get the damned thing on. I bet they don't sell many condoms to Eskimos.
Well if anyone was to know about Eskimos and condoms, I'd guess it to be Trish. D'yall wear walrus skin undies up yonder?
Well it's a big country up here and the tundra is a fair bit away. The closest I've come to an Eskimo is an Eskimo ice cream pie....although admittedly, I've had the occasional encounter with a condom. No walrus skin undies - where did you hear that one from? Al Gore? Sheesh.
On one Thread, Will boasted about his being 6’-2”. After reading that, I realized there no reason for me to post anymore on that thread or ever visit Canada.
"The closest I've come to an Eskimo is an Eskimo ice cream pie....although admittedly, I've had the occasional encounter with a condom. "
I guess that confirms my theory on Eskimos and condoms.When applied correctly they'll will stop the cream pie. Indeed, that's precisely the point.
I learned it from a Frank Zappa song.
I guess that confirms my theory on Eskimos and condoms.When applied correctly they'll will stop the cream pie. Indeed, that's precisely the point.
I learned it from a Frank Zappa song.
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