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What Should Be Done After Accidental Pricking By A Safety Pin?
Posted on
Mon, 26 Sep 2016
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Mon, 26 Sep 2016
Answered on
Mon, 17 Oct 2016
Last reviewed on
Question : I was at a fair and I pricked my finger on a safety pin looking at rings. It was a very tiny prick and barely bled at all.... Am I at risk for any type of disease/infection?
Brief Answer:
There is a rare risk of tetanus especially if the pin was rusted or soiled
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for writing in to us.
A prick due to a safety pin which did not bleed is unlikely to cause any serious disease or infection.
However it is suggested that you wash the finger and apply an antiseptic cream and preferably cover it with a band aid if it hurts.
As a routine practice, it is suggested to get a tetanus shot after any pin prick injury if you are not immunized against tetanus. The risk of tetanus is present especially if the pin was rusted or contaminated with soil. If you have taken a tetanus shot within the past 5 years then there is no need of the shot.
Hope your query is answered.
Please do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
There is a rare risk of tetanus especially if the pin was rusted or soiled
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for writing in to us.
A prick due to a safety pin which did not bleed is unlikely to cause any serious disease or infection.
However it is suggested that you wash the finger and apply an antiseptic cream and preferably cover it with a band aid if it hurts.
As a routine practice, it is suggested to get a tetanus shot after any pin prick injury if you are not immunized against tetanus. The risk of tetanus is present especially if the pin was rusted or contaminated with soil. If you have taken a tetanus shot within the past 5 years then there is no need of the shot.
Hope your query is answered.
Please do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Brief Answer:
In usual circumstances a pin is unlikely to harbor HIV, hepatitis infection
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for writing back with an update.
If you have had a tetanus shot in 2012 then you are protected.
About your concern on HIV and Hepatitis B or C, a risk is there if the object piercing was contaminated with blood of fluids from an infected person having the conditions. To me it appears that in a fair, it is less likely to get in touch with a safety pin which was contaminated before the prick.
HIV is a fragile virus and dies within seconds to minutes on exposure to air.
A pin tip has a small area and therefore it is difficult to thick that the safety pin in a fair is contaminated with HIV or Hepatitis B or C unless it is an intentional act.
Hope your query is answered.
Please do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
In usual circumstances a pin is unlikely to harbor HIV, hepatitis infection
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for writing back with an update.
If you have had a tetanus shot in 2012 then you are protected.
About your concern on HIV and Hepatitis B or C, a risk is there if the object piercing was contaminated with blood of fluids from an infected person having the conditions. To me it appears that in a fair, it is less likely to get in touch with a safety pin which was contaminated before the prick.
HIV is a fragile virus and dies within seconds to minutes on exposure to air.
A pin tip has a small area and therefore it is difficult to thick that the safety pin in a fair is contaminated with HIV or Hepatitis B or C unless it is an intentional act.
Hope your query is answered.
Please do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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