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Exposure
May 15, 2008
Dr. Frascino,
I was drawing blood on an HIV + and Hep C + patient.
When I took the tube out of the vacutainer holder, I felt a speck of what might have been blood hit my cheek (some blood had dripped inside the vacutainer holder and had gotten on the outside of the tube). I washed my entire face a couple minutes later but before washing my face, I looked in the mirror and didn't see any blood on my face; i had no sores on my face. I'm worried that in washing my face with water I may have transferred that microscopic speck of blood from my cheek to a mucous membrane (nose or mouth) via the water. Is there any risk of infection here or am I being a bit paranoid (I am anxious by nature).
Thanks for your help.
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Response from Dr. Frascino
Hi,
Your HIV transmission/acquisition risk is completely nonexistent. So to answer your question concerning risk of infection versus being a bit paranoid, the answer is definitely "a bit paranoid."
Dr. Bob
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