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Emergency Room Incident
Hello,
Thks for giving me this outlet to seek clarification on an incident in the Emergency Room in London, UK last week. I am a young man who never had sex and do not take drugs. I have been seeing my GP for my hemorrhoid problem. He said I should go to the ER if I bleed again. It happened again with fever so I visited the ER.
I was attended by a male nurse as all doctors were busy. He was edgy & sarcastic because mine was not an emergency. I told him I was just following my doctor’s orders. He took me to this cubicle where the hospital bed was rather messy with the white sheet crumpled. Someone was obviously there just before me. The nurse told me to undress halfway and rest on the bed in a certain way so that he can look at my anus. I am not sure what he was looking for but he pressed against the sides of my anus. I did feel a slight prick which could have been his fingernails. When he finished and I turned over, I noticed that he did not wear any gloves. He said there is nothing wrong with you and told me to dress up and leave. When I was about to leave, I saw specks of what looked like red blood on the top side of the hospital bed. I do not know if they were fresh or dry. I was so freaked out – I just left as quickly as I could. I worry this might be contaminated blood and the nurse could have done something either deliberately or unintentionally when he was looking at my anus, and so could have resulted in HIV transmission. He was obviously negligent given that the nurse did not even wear gloves to begin with. Further, since I had to turn to my blind side, I have no idea what the nurse may have done when examining my anus. He could even be HIV+.
a. Am I at genuine risk for HIV or other blood-borne diseases from this ER incident? Do I need testing given that there could be possible transmission of contaminated blood?
b. If I was to do a HIV duo test post-28 days to ease my worries, would that be conclusive?
I am a nervous wreck. Pls help me.
Thks for giving me this outlet to seek clarification on an incident in the Emergency Room in London, UK last week. I am a young man who never had sex and do not take drugs. I have been seeing my GP for my hemorrhoid problem. He said I should go to the ER if I bleed again. It happened again with fever so I visited the ER.
I was attended by a male nurse as all doctors were busy. He was edgy & sarcastic because mine was not an emergency. I told him I was just following my doctor’s orders. He took me to this cubicle where the hospital bed was rather messy with the white sheet crumpled. Someone was obviously there just before me. The nurse told me to undress halfway and rest on the bed in a certain way so that he can look at my anus. I am not sure what he was looking for but he pressed against the sides of my anus. I did feel a slight prick which could have been his fingernails. When he finished and I turned over, I noticed that he did not wear any gloves. He said there is nothing wrong with you and told me to dress up and leave. When I was about to leave, I saw specks of what looked like red blood on the top side of the hospital bed. I do not know if they were fresh or dry. I was so freaked out – I just left as quickly as I could. I worry this might be contaminated blood and the nurse could have done something either deliberately or unintentionally when he was looking at my anus, and so could have resulted in HIV transmission. He was obviously negligent given that the nurse did not even wear gloves to begin with. Further, since I had to turn to my blind side, I have no idea what the nurse may have done when examining my anus. He could even be HIV+.
a. Am I at genuine risk for HIV or other blood-borne diseases from this ER incident? Do I need testing given that there could be possible transmission of contaminated blood?
b. If I was to do a HIV duo test post-28 days to ease my worries, would that be conclusive?
I am a nervous wreck. Pls help me.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
There was also the dentist in the US who injected patients with his own HIV infected blood. The rarity of such intentional transmissions proves the point.
"...should I just move on from this episode and forget about HIV (get it out of my mind)?" Yes indeed. I already said that, implicitly if not in exact words.
That will end this thread. Take care.
"...should I just move on from this episode and forget about HIV (get it out of my mind)?" Yes indeed. I already said that, implicitly if not in exact words.
That will end this thread. Take care.
Thank you very much for your advice and suggestion. True, but there have been cases, although rare, of either criminal or unexplained or unintentional cases of HIV or Hepatitis transmission from healthcare providers to patients. I think that as much as there is a certain risk working in the healthcare industry, there is also a certain risk which one must accept as a patient. I have asked the clinic to get the report before my visit to the GP next week. On a final note, with specific reference to my HIV concern, should I just move on from this episode and forget about HIV (get it out of my mind)? That's all from me. Thanks.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Apparently you misunderstood my reply. I see no realistic chance of HIV in this setting and no need for testing. To my knowledge, no patient is known to have acquired HIV in a health care setting in 20 years and you're not likely to be the first. In any case, I also suggested you discuss this with your own doctor, who probably has a report (or can get one) about your exam and the findings.
Thanks. To clarify, I was not asking you to guess exactly what sort of examination was done on me, What I was asking is whether in your view, such an incident warrants HIV testing if there was indeed some form of theoretical risk based on the fact that a) the nurse did not wear gloves; b) there was possible contaminated blood on the hospital bed. Nonetheless, I appreciate your input although it hasn't really put my mind at ease. I now feel that there is a possibility I could be infected (possible blood-to-blood contact), and so I have to find the money from somewhere to do the HIV duo test, which for a young student like me, is very expensive, I wish you well in your continued good work on this forum. Thanks again.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the HIV forum.
I don't understand your confusion about why the nurse examined your anus; you went in with a hemorrhoid problem. Beyond that, you're asking me to guess exactly what sort of examination was done -- but I wasn't there, you were. That said, if the nurse's hands contacted you without gloves, it would be very peculiar. But gloves are not worn in medical procedures to protect the patient from infection; the purpose is to protect the health care provider. If there was any risk if gloves were not used, it was to the nurse, not to you.
a) I can't say exactly what sort of examination was done, but I don't see how there could have be any risk for HIV or any other blood borne infection.
b) Yes, a negative duo test after 4 weeks would conclusively prove you didn't catch HIV. But it doesn't seem necessary.
You might speak with the doctor who sent you to the ER. if you haven't done so; he or she might have had a report from the ER that would say exactly what was done -- or s/he could contact the ER to ask.
Regards-- HHH, MD
I don't understand your confusion about why the nurse examined your anus; you went in with a hemorrhoid problem. Beyond that, you're asking me to guess exactly what sort of examination was done -- but I wasn't there, you were. That said, if the nurse's hands contacted you without gloves, it would be very peculiar. But gloves are not worn in medical procedures to protect the patient from infection; the purpose is to protect the health care provider. If there was any risk if gloves were not used, it was to the nurse, not to you.
a) I can't say exactly what sort of examination was done, but I don't see how there could have be any risk for HIV or any other blood borne infection.
b) Yes, a negative duo test after 4 weeks would conclusively prove you didn't catch HIV. But it doesn't seem necessary.
You might speak with the doctor who sent you to the ER. if you haven't done so; he or she might have had a report from the ER that would say exactly what was done -- or s/he could contact the ER to ask.
Regards-- HHH, MD
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