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Can HIV Be Contracted Through Needle Prick Injury?

Posted on Tue, 3 May 2016

Question: Hi,

I'm a young dentist.
A few days ago, after an anesthesia, I prick myself with the needle.
The glove didn't seem perforated or broken and I didn't notice blood coming from my finger.
During the anamnesis, when the patient was asked about HIV, HCV, HBV (I am vaccinated for HBV), he didn't reported anything. He said not to have such diseases.
By the way I required a blood test.

Should I worry?

Thanks,
XXXX

Answered by Dr. Shoaib Khan (34 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
I do not think there is any cause for concerns sir, best wishes :)

Detailed Answer:
Hello sir and welcome.

Thank you for writing to us.

I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. I do not think there should be any cause for concern, especially as out of all the needle prick injuries reported in a year, only 2 % of less are likely to be infected with HIV-infected blood. And from reports, out of those 2 % the reported cases resulting from such pricks from HIV-infected blood is very minimal thus culminating in a risk of transmission from such needle pricks to be about 0.4 %.

This is an extremely low number, and in my case is highly unlikely to result in any such serious infections. Along with that, most of the needle pricks that did result in transmission of infections had blood visibly present on the needle and/or the site of the prick, which is not the case with you sir.

I hope you find my response helpful. Please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications, I am always here to help.

Best wishes.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Shoaib Khan (1 hour later)

Hi,

Thanks for your answer.

I am not really concerned about the HIV.
I was thinking more about the HCV or others disease.

The needle was contaminated for sure, because I had just used it and it's true that I didn't see blood, but the diameter of the needle is really small, so it could have penetrated anyway in my finger.

But...the patient didn't reported anything about infective illness.
I work in a clinic where it's possibile to treat patient with HIV, HCV, HBV etc, but they always says that. So, I should believe him.
So the risk should be low, right?

Another question: if I run my blood test in a week (approximatively), to have the answer to HIV, HCV, HBV, do I have to make a special request, or they're normally analyzed? The result, if negative, are definitive, or do I have to run more tests?

Thanks again,
XXX

Answered by Dr. Shoaib Khan (9 hours later)

Brief Answer:
HCV risk is 1.8 % with needlestick; retesting may be required in some time

Detailed Answer:
Hello once again sir.

I spoke about HIV mainly as that is the most serious, but HCV also carries about 1.8 5 chances of the infection being transmitted through needle stick injuries. This is a fairly low number, and it also requires facts like blood to be seen on the needle, deep penetration, etc.

I still feel your chances of the infection being transmitted to you are low sir.

It is a little early for HIV, all you need to do is specify which infections you need to check for thats all, it is usually a special request and the normal checks do not entail such infections, so better to ask for these tests specifically so they do not test for anything extra.

You may have to repeat tests in a certain duration of time.

I hope you find my response helpful and informative. Please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications, I am always here to help.

Best wishes.

Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar