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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Is The Possibility Of Contracting HIV From A Needle Prick Injury?

Yesterday I got needle stick/puncture in my left index finger by a needle that a person who injects drugs. The needle had dried brown blood in the barrel/cylinder. I did not bleed from the needle stick or puncture nor I did not see a broken skin. I only see a slight grazed or scrape. What is the possibility of my contracting Hepatitis C and HIV from this incident?
Wed, 23 May 2018
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hello and Welcome to ‘Ask A Doctor’ service.
I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.

HIV and HCV can transmit through needle stick. The possibility depends on few factors like depth of injury , and the severity of the disease ( viral count ). However as a whole the chance is not too much. Like after a single prick the chances of getting HIV is only 0.3% like only one out of 300 gets HIV. This is slightly more for HCV which is like about 1 in 30. So, yes there is a chance but its very low. If there is no bleeding the chance is even less . We generally recommend post exposure prophylaxis after prick from HIV. If with in 72 hours . What I understand you just get your status checked and then follow in few weeks. Hope everything would be fine. If still any doubt . I would be happy to answer your question.

Hope I have answered your query.
Let me know if I can assist you further.





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What Is The Possibility Of Contracting HIV From A Needle Prick Injury?

Hello and Welcome to ‘Ask A Doctor’ service. I have reviewed your query and here is my advice. HIV and HCV can transmit through needle stick. The possibility depends on few factors like depth of injury , and the severity of the disease ( viral count ). However as a whole the chance is not too much. Like after a single prick the chances of getting HIV is only 0.3% like only one out of 300 gets HIV. This is slightly more for HCV which is like about 1 in 30. So, yes there is a chance but its very low. If there is no bleeding the chance is even less . We generally recommend post exposure prophylaxis after prick from HIV. If with in 72 hours . What I understand you just get your status checked and then follow in few weeks. Hope everything would be fine. If still any doubt . I would be happy to answer your question. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.