Can HVC live on a broken off syringe tip? If so, for how long?

[recovery75]

Can HVC live on a broken off syringe tip? If so, for how long?
I am a recovering IV drug addict with Hepatitis C( possibly HIV...will get tested soon). I recently had a relapse last weekend and injected some drugs. One 3/16" needle tip broke off the syringe and flew into the carpet. I searched and searched, but could not find it. Eventually I vacuumed the room like it had never been vacuumed before. I'm still concerned though, what if one of my roommates or a guest step on it? Could HVC (or HIV) be tranmitted this way?!!!

[Trinity4]

You beat HCV once, that was a blessing because many do not.  Don't push your luck a second time;  getting high for a couple hours isn't worth a lifetime of misery.   I hope you can stay clean and use every resource available to make that happen.

Happy Holidays to you,
Trinity

[recovery75]

Been cleaning the place silly!...I see your point though.
I did 11 months of interferon in 2007 and had sustained viralogic response. That is, HCV levels below what is considered detectable. 1 year later levels were still good. Liver enzymes were normal when checked this past May. Given my recent relapses I should get another HCV level check, not to mention HIV test, as well. This week has been rough with just tryin to stay clean and off the dope.
So yes, I have been cleaning....going to NA meetings...and working closely with a sponsor to try to save my life and avoid doing more damage to myself and the people close to me.
Thank you, God bless, and Happy Holidays.

[GSDgirl]

******thank you everyone...i have a couple of days off of work this week and will do a massive cleaning.*****

Hey dude,    Are you doing your cleaning or still playing on the internet with a bunch of people that have actually had HCV or still have HCV OR treated and are still looking for information??..

[recovery75]

Thank you!

[Trinity4]

Six month from now in won't matter except maybe your niece might get stuck but no chance of transmitting the virus.  Actually, I think you're freaking out needlessly.  You aren't going to find the proverbial needle in the haystack so just have your roommates put on footwear for the next week.

Trinity

[recovery75]

thank you everyone...i have a couple of days off of work this week and will do a massive cleaning...not sure about opening up that vacuum bag though. wish i could know for sure....i don't want this looming over me, and 6 months from now i have to worry about my little niece running around the apartment.

[Mary4now]

Maybe he meant hep A, i think i will bring this up to him, cuz I just did a little google search and it says 16 hrs. / 4 days...but Hep A is really hardy...
now I'm thinking sheet this guy better get his info right if I'm in his hands, got to keep my eyes open.  I think I'll stick to the info forwarded by the chiefs.  I met the head of infectious diseases, nice guy, disheartened by the health care system. he probably has better info.  
thanks Trish....

[Mary4now]

Trinity,
that info was given to me from the one who drew my blood and did the ECG he is HIV+ and an EMT, this was information given to him during a training.  thats all i know

[Trinity4]

"Just came back from my screening for treatment and the folks there say 1 month and if dry once rehydrated is active."

I'm highly suspect of that information Mary.  I've done a lot of research on Hepc and I've never come across any literature stating that.

Trinity

[GSDgirl]

Honestly I would go throughg the sweeper bag / canister and see if the broken needle is in there.  About 6 years ago I stepped on a roofing nail the sucker went right through my shoes and a needle is a lot sharper.  

[Mary4now]

Just came back from my screening for treatment and the folks there say 1 month and if dry once rehydrated is active

[fretboard]

Ouch!!  It's always a shame to hear when somebody relapses and I hope things get better for you.  Maybe you should just make sure nobody walks around in barefeet for awhile.  Most likely you picked it up in the vacuum and it's never to be seen again, but just the same it's way better to be safe than sorry.  good luck!!

[Bill1954]

Hmm…

I believe it’s too much of a factor once removed from the host though…

Should have read:

I believe it’s NOT much of a factor once removed from the host though…

I agree with Trish.

--Bill

[Trish77]

HIV dies within minutes outside the body generally.  Far less risk of HIV from that errant needle tip than HCV.  

[Bill1954]

According to this article from the 2010 CROI conference in San Francisco earlier this year, the HCV virus can remain durable for up to two months in certain instances. Normally, it won’t remain viable for more than four days on environmental surfaces. I don’t know too much about HIV; I believe it’s too much of a factor once removed from the host though:

http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/2010_conference/croi/docs/0223_2010_b.html

Sorry to hear of your relapse; take care of yourself--

--Bill

[willbb]

I don"t know  how long  HIV can live outside the body,I am sure someone else will comment on that.

As far as HCV it  has been known to live for anywhere from 16 hrs. to four days and that before the blood is dry to be more contagious.

It will not infect anyone just brushing against it ,however if it penetrates the skin within that time frame there is a possibility of infection.

Keep looking and try to find it!

Hope that helps

WILL