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Can I Get HIV Infection Through A Needle Prick Injury?
I am a dentist. Unfortunately I recieved a prick from a 26 guage metal wire while working on a hiv +ve patient. I was wearing hiv surgical kit with double surgical gloves. Unfortunately I noticed it after a while when i was removing my gloves. i squeezed my thumb finger & bit of blood oozed out. I consulted my physician on the same evening & was advised a post exposure prophylaxis with 150mg lamivudine & 300 mg zidovudine. for 6 weeks.
I noticed blood clot on my finger of about 2 mm. The wire i was using should be tied around the teeth. i am not sure whether it was contaminated with blood or not.
Kindly tell me whether i am at a risk of getting infected or not
thank you.
I noticed blood clot on my finger of about 2 mm. The wire i was using should be tied around the teeth. i am not sure whether it was contaminated with blood or not.
Kindly tell me whether i am at a risk of getting infected or not
thank you.
Tue, 26 Aug 2014
Hello, very please to hear about your incidence. If I am your treating doctor I would like to advice you that you definitely has chance to develop HIV. Continue your PEP for 6 weeks. at the end of PEP check your status with the p24 Antigen assay to check your status. Though saliva has some inhibitor substances present in the saliva you are protected with HIV. But as you are doing dental procedure you may get nidus of HIV by the wound which has happened while doing dental procedure. If you have anything else to ask please contact me. Thanx. Dr. Arun Tank
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You are not sure whether it was contaminated or not , but the fact that the person from which it was exposed , was a HIV positive one and that is why you have been started PEP(Post Exposure Prophylaxis ) . You certainly have the risk for acquiring HIV
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