HIV/HepC exposure from OR?

[brunettenrs]

I am a nursing student and one week ago I was allowed to watch amputations in the OR. While the surgeon was performing one of the amputations, she flushed the wound with Normal Saline and this caused saline and blood to splash onto her eye mask (the same mask she was using during the last 4 amputations). Because she could no longer see clearly she asked me to pull down her mask, so I did, but I realized I did not have gloves on. I looked down at my fingers and saw blood. I ran to the sink and washed it off within 30 seconds. I then started looking for any cuts on my hands and found one paper cut and two damaged cuticles on the fingers I pulled the mask down with. I also wash my hands frequently so they are dry and somewhat peeling. What are the chances that, if the pt had HIV or HepC, I could contract it this way?

[Philip D Parks, MD, MPH, MOccH, FACOEM]

No, probably not necessary.

- Dr. Parks

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice. The information presented in this posting is for patients’ education only. As always, I encourage you to see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

[brunettenrs]

Thank You for your response. When I told my instructor about it, she said it is unlikely that I could have gotten either of these two diseases. She did not refer me to Employee Health. Do you think it is necessary?

[Philip D Parks, MD, MPH, MOccH, FACOEM]

Hello,

The risk of you acquiring HIV or Hepatitis C in the manner that you describe is extremely low. Using the CDC's method of estimating risk, the "exposure" that you describe is low risk--unknown source patient status with exposure to more or less intact skin (but not totally intact based on your description).

The risk of seroconverting to HIV + after a needlestick with a positive source patient is 0.3% and 2-8% seroconversion rate in the setting of a source patient Hep C positive. Your would be much lower than the above statistics. There have been no scientific studies that accurately quantify risk in the context that you have described.

Were you instructed to discuss your exposure with Occupational or Employee Health?

If so, what did they say?
- Dr. Parks

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice. The information presented in this posting is for patients’ education only. As always, I encourage you to see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.