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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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How To Avoid Transmission Of Infection After Accidental Needle Prick?

Hi Doctor,
My wife got an accidental prick after administering insulin to her mother who is currently down with liver failure due to water filling her stomach every few days. I am also listing below her 63 year old (frail, weak and weighing 39Kgs/80lbs) mom's medical histroy below for your ref:
1. Suffering from Asthama for over 30 years...........
2. Diagnosed with Breast Cancer 5 years ago .... treated with laser and has been sort of been contained fortunately two years back and not currently spreading.
3. Diagnosed with Hepatitis 'C' 4 years ago... and under treatement. About 4 months back her belly started to fill with water and had to be removed every 1 month twice and later every 15days and now every 7-10days.....Doctors are advising to have a TIPS procedure done to let the water out continously.
4. Diagnosed 4 months back with high sugar levels and advised to administer insulin regularly.

Please advise, what should my wife do immediately to ensure she is not getting any infection from her mom's used insulin needle?
Thanx
Fri, 9 Jan 2015
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Good day and thanks for your question. From your story the only transmissible infection your wife can contract from her mother is Hepatitis C. Asthma, breast cancer and high sugar levels cannot be transmitted through needle prick. However the risk of contracting hepatitis C via needle prick (insulin needle) is extremely low. No need to panic my dear brother. However you can take her to the hospital, she will do a baseline test on Hepatitis C (anti-HCV and liver function test especially alanine amino transferase) and the test is repeated 4-6 weeks after.
Hope it helps. Thank you.
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How To Avoid Transmission Of Infection After Accidental Needle Prick?

Good day and thanks for your question. From your story the only transmissible infection your wife can contract from her mother is Hepatitis C. Asthma, breast cancer and high sugar levels cannot be transmitted through needle prick. However the risk of contracting hepatitis C via needle prick (insulin needle) is extremely low. No need to panic my dear brother. However you can take her to the hospital, she will do a baseline test on Hepatitis C (anti-HCV and liver function test especially alanine amino transferase) and the test is repeated 4-6 weeks after. Hope it helps. Thank you.