Just got pricked by a used fit!!!

[88brenno]

Sorry to hear bro, hope you pull out okay.

I can not believe people are that stupid, putting innocent lives in danger because they cant be bothered to clean up after themselves, it grinds my gears that they take the effort to disguise it as general rubbish, people like that should be castrated. Karma will sort them out one day, but in the meantime just try relax. I remember about 10 years ago I always used to see this same dodgy car at the shop next door and the day after I would always find used needles with no cap or anything to stop shit like this from happening. I used to tell the store manager and got free lollies, but to go as far as disguising it to purposely cause harm, that's pathetic low life scum.

 

[ayjay]

Hi pisspotnrock - sorry to hear you received a needle stick injury. As mentioned above - the chance you will contract a blood borne virus such as hep C or HIV is very low.

There are a few factual errors in the above postings that I'd like to clear up.

1. The chance of HIV/Hep B-C transmission is considerably lower in the context you describe, compared to the figures provided by Divine Moments. Those figures relate to transmission in a hospital setting, where the needle has just been used on a patient, and the needle gauge is 25g or thicker. Any length of time between needle use and needle stick injury will reduce the chance of transmission. Also - the prevalence of HIV amongst people who inject drugs in Australia is very low (around 1%). There has never been a recorded case IN THE WORLD of an HIV transmission from a needlestick injury in a community setting. There is no recorded case in Australia of a hep C transmission from a needlestick injury in a community setting. The chance of transmission is obviously greater than zero, but it's a lot less than the percentages quoted above.

2. The current best practice for responding to needle stick injury advises AGAINST encouraging the wound to bleed by squeezing etc. It is thought that this may traumatise the wound area and in fact increase the chance of transmission. The process is - you wash the wound, put a bandaid on it, then seek medical attention. It's not a bad idea to consider a tetanus booster. You will get antibody tests done on HIV, hep B/C as baseline (to see if you already have any of these viruses) - then retests at 3 months. You should receive pre and post test counselling for these tests (particularly HIV).

3. PEP is probably not recommended in your case. PEP works to prevent HIV transmission. Your chance of exposure to HIV is incredibly small. PEP is not nice medication to take so not to be done lightly. You can get expert advice on PEP and related matters by talking to an infectious disease specialist. For example - you can call the infectious disease clinic at either the Alfred or Royal Melbourne hospitals in Melbourne for this kind of advice.

4. Hepatitis C is ONLY transmitted through BLOOD (not saliva as lovepsychadelics suggests). Infected blood has to enter the bloodstream of another person to cause transmission.

You can check any of these facts via your state hepatitis body, hepatatis australia, AFAO etc etc

 

[AminoAcid]

PS: I hope you started taking those anti-viral drugs as some of the newer ones, although expensive, are genuinelly effective, and in your case time is clearly a factor. Better $800 down and feeling sick for a couple of weeks than getting some shit like HIV of Hep. C/B.

 

[PantyRaid]

I have a friend who likes to keep his pockets (that always seem to have holes in them... small wonder) full of uncapped rigs (what do you guys call them? Fits?). Thus he seems to drop them everywhere. I was cleaning out our car and when I reached under the seat my hand came back out with a bluehead (those gigantic ones I think they're like 23 gauge or something and like an inch long - freakin HUGE) stuck in under my fingernail. He has hep c. Needless to say I was fucking PISSED (angry, not drunk... is that what you call drunk? All I know of Australia is what I've read in tank girl haha). This type of individual not only puts everyone at risk, they keep the social stigma against injectors going. Sorry to invade your guys forum, I just love how Aussies talk. I can't get enough of you guys, I'm obsessed. Every time I meet someone from Australia I have a tiny little mind orgasm. Carry on (and GOOD LUCK! I know the feeling and it's not fun )

 

[ayjay]

PS: I hope you started taking those anti-viral drugs as some of the newer ones, although expensive, are genuinelly effective, and in your case time is clearly a factor. Better $800 down and feeling sick for a couple of weeks than getting some shit like HIV of Hep. C/B.

Actually not very good advice. PEP only works on HIV - it will not prevent a hep C infection. The chance of contracting HIV from a needle stick injury such as the one described is incredibly tiny - borne out by the fact that such an HIV transmission has NEVER verifiably happened anywhere in the world to date.

But don't take my word for it - if you receive a needle stick injury than contact an infectious disease specialist at an ID clinic (eg at Alfred or melbourne hospitals in Vic - there will be equivalents in other states)

 

[Captain Brewster]

I have a friend who likes to keep his pockets (that always seem to have holes in them... small wonder) full of uncapped rigs (what do you guys call them? Fits?). Thus he seems to drop them everywhere. I was cleaning out our car and when I reached under the seat my hand came back out with a bluehead (those gigantic ones I think they're like 23 gauge or something and like an inch long - freakin HUGE) stuck in under my fingernail. He has hep c. Needless to say I was fucking PISSED (angry, not drunk... is that what you call drunk? All I know of Australia is what I've read in tank girl haha). This type of individual not only puts everyone at risk, they keep the social stigma against injectors going. Sorry to invade your guys forum, I just love how Aussies talk. I can't get enough of you guys, I'm obsessed. Every time I meet someone from Australia I have a tiny little mind orgasm. Carry on (and GOOD LUCK! I know the feeling and it's not fun )

Your friend is an arsehole. Tell him to be more carefully towards humanity.

 

[PantyRaid]

^ agreed. In fact he once got my boyfriend and i kicked out of our house by dropping one of his gigantic needles on the living room floor. Im surprised he hasnt has his ass beat by police or anyone else for that matter. Although despite his [GLARING] faults he really is a nice guy, usually honest and for the most part a good and caring friend. So we keep him around and hope that he'll eventually get all his pockets sewn up and start disposing of stuff properly (which he has thus far THANK GOD).

 

[lovepsychadelics]

Thanks for clearing that up as I could not be bothered researching. I thought it may be transmittable through some other body fluids but as I said was not 100% cause my memory is shit at the best of times. Even if you burst the ascities of an end stage Hep C sufferer and covered yourself in the discharge you probably will not pick up hep C even if covered in blood and other body fluids. Had that happen while covered in bile, blood and other stuff cause a person felt the need to sabotage their ileostomy. While cleaning the person up and trying to reattach the appliance I was informed the individual was HIV+. I had all my PPE and didn't even worry as I had no cuts etc and was covered in protective gear. Hep B is a different story thats why I have regular shots. HIV in Africa has some funky mutations so stay away as some variants are transmittable via other body fluids, not really sure about this just some rumour or article I heard/read, so if someone wants to find out be my guest, I'd love to know for sure.

 

[PantyRaid]

Hep C is pretty much limited to blood-blood transmission BUT it's not just the obvious (sharing needles) that'll get you. My dads friend got it by using her hep c positive husbands toothbrush. Also sharing water (for injection) with someone who has hep c is one of the easiest ways to contract it so always have your own source of water. Also, while rarer than other ways, sharing someones straw when snorting is another no-no. Pretty much just err on the side of caution whenever possible. If there could be blood involved (it only takes a microscopic amount so dont assume that you'll be able to see it- unprotected anal sex is another way) take every available precaution or wait til you can.

 

[AminoAcid]

borne out by the fact that such an HIV transmission has NEVER verifiably happened anywhere in the world to date.

Well I just looked up the facts and you're wrong. You have a 0.3% chance of getting HIV from a needlestick injury. Even though that's low I still wouldn't think twice about spending $800 on the newest anti-virals, as it's your life on the line.

 

[Rose Petal]

I would have to agree that the chances of your contracting a serious bloodborne disease is remote. Nurses, however careful they try to be, often have needlestick injuries, yet there have only ever been a handful of incidences worldwide where this has resulted in transmission of HIV. If you look at it logically, you'd probably have more chance of it being passed via a mosquito that, say, begins to feed on an infected person before being interrupted, and continues it's meal from the person sitting next to him at a BBQ. When it's proboscus pierces the skin of the second guy, it stands to reason there would be minute particles of blood (and, if present, virus) which would be regurgitated from it's tummy into the next person's bite mark.. yet how often do you hear of transmission occurring this way? Usually when it's unknown how the person contracted it, it turns out that there was that one time they did it up the bum with an ex boyfriend who turns out to have been infected. The reason shared needles are such a risk factor is the much higher likelihood of transmission through the plunger being depressed therefore expelling the contents of the needle directly into the second person's skin, which would take place in a matter of minutes if these two fools are sharing the experience.

Don't waste three months of precious life by worrying and stressing.

 

[Rose Petal]

Well I just looked up the facts and you're wrong. You have a 0.3% chance of getting HIV from a needlestick injury. Even though that's low I still wouldn't think twice about spending $800 on the newest anti-virals, as it's your life on the line.

Do it! And while you're at it, collect up all your medical bills, take a month of work for stress, go see a counselor and keep all the receipts, then have your lawyer draft up a letter of demand to your work place requesting the amount in total plus appropriate compensation for the mental anquish this has placed you (and your family..?) under. Take it to your union, take it to Workplace Health and Safety (okay, there were sharps bins, but were they well placed, were there signs up, and if that washroom is usually a mess, were the cleaners doing their job?)

Although I'm sad that this happened to you, I'm a little relieved that it didn't happen to somebody who was not as switched on and proactive in safeguarding his health! A kid may have just said "ouch, that was freaky" and got on with his day. Somebody else may have been too shocked and even embarassed, to take steps to prevent infection. These people who don't get immediate treatment will have a higher chance of infection.


The thing is, it's unacceptable for you and for your colleagues to be put at risk like this. By making a fuss about it, your employers are more likely to do something to prevent this ever happening to anybody again. They should probably find out who left the used kit, and terminate their employment. Perhaps they could introduce drugs testing - at least until they find the culprit.

In the meantime, you have every right to expect all medical expenses to be taken care of by your workplace, as well as a period of paid 'sick time'.. and compensation would certainly be appropriate if you felt you have suffered psychologically as a result of this incident. I guess it's up to you whether you want to pursue that or whether doing so would just feel like more stress.

I'm sure it will all be fine. Good luck with this.

 

[spacejunk]

The thing is, it's unacceptable for you and for your colleagues to be put at risk like this. By making a fuss about it, your employers are more likely to do something to prevent this ever happening to anybody again. They should probably find out who left the used kit, and terminate their employment. Perhaps they could introduce drugs testing - at least until they find the culprit.

don't you think that if his work knew who was shooting up in the toilets at work, they'd already have been fired or otherwise disciplined?
the impression i get is that this is a public toilet in his workplace. i could be wrong.

while i agree in principle with a lot of what you're saying, i think it is maybe a bit presumptuous to think that pisspot's work will give him time off and pay for all expenses incurred.

what if he's a casual worker? there is no such thing as (paid) sick leave for casuals.

employers have a duty of care for their staff, and should do everything they can to minimise such risks and look after their employees in the
case of an incident like this, there are a lot of people that wouldn't have the luxury of a workplace that would cover such a thing.
it is certainly worth enquiring about (especially if you are a union member) but unless there is negligence on the part of the employer, i'm not sure how likely it is that your work will cover every expense. it would depend greatly on the job and the employer IMO.
totally agree that it is a good thing to take this incident so seriously - but i'm sorry it happened to you at all mate. it sucks that people can be so selfish and lazy as to leave used fits lying around.

 

[AyahuascaSeeker13]

I really feel for this guy!

I knew of a gent in Melbourne Assessment Prison for minor driving offenses (1 month sentence) who was on bin duty, and unbeknowns to him when cleaning a bin a fuckin crumb had left a used fit under the bin liner. Result, hep c and the therapy that goes with it.

He is going well now I hear, but if you must use fits, please dispose of them in the sharps containers which are EVERYWHERE! A bit of respect for those of us who enjoy dabbling in this and that, but do it cleanly.

Hope your prognosis thus far is 100%