How common is it that a surgeon contracts HIV from a patient during surgery?

[vincikai]

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How common is it that a surgeon contracts HIV from a patient during surgery? any thoughts?😱

 

[ONYX4000GT]

probably close to never seeing as how the surgeon would know that the patient hes working on is infected... unless hes a complete idiot and overlooks it without taking the right precautions.

 

[Rafa]

probably close to never seeing as how the surgeon would know that the patient hes working on is infected... unless hes a complete idiot and overlooks it without taking the right precautions.

Or, you know...a mistake happened. Since...those tend to happen, like every now and then.

 

[baylormed]

This irrational fear will probably keep ME out of surgery, and make me go for radiology instead, where the only thing I have to touch are pictures of the insides of people, but not the insides themselves.

I figure the risk is fairly low, although I also figure it is possible for it to happen. The best forum to ask this question would be the Surgery residency forum, as those people actually do this for a living.

 

[Kardizzle]

probably close to never seeing as how the surgeon would know that the patient hes working on is infected... unless hes a complete idiot and overlooks it without taking the right precautions.

Surgeons don't know if a patient is infected unless the patient has a documented HIV test in his or her records. Patients are not required to take HIV tests prior to surgery for the surgeon's information.

 

[instigata]

How common is it that a surgeon contracts HIV from a patient during surgery? any thoughts?😱

Hey you stole my post word for word!😡 lol 😀

 

[Rafa]

Hey you stole my post word for word!😡 lol 😀

Hahaha...isn't this plagiarism? OP, something tells me you're going to make...a horrrrrible doctor!!!

 

[63768]

well, unless the surgeon nicks his glove and his finger and fails to notice it, i think the rate of infection is pretty low. i'm sure it's about as common as doctors sticking themselves with needles.

oh and there is a well-defined postexposure prophylaxis protocol at each hospital/surgcenter. i'm sure with the severity of AIDS, we've come up with a way to keep occupational exposure down.

 

[Cmercury1]

I remember watching a scene on House where a HIV+ patient coughed blood into the female doc's eye (I forget her name). I don't know what happened after that, though. I think her test came out negative. Still, scary thought.

 

[baylormed]

I remember watching a scene on House where a HIV+ patient coughed blood into the female doc's eye (I forget her name). I don't know what happened after that, though. I think her test came out negative. Still, scary thought.

Yes! (I have the House seasons on DVD )

I think her exams came back negative (her name is Dr. Cameron), but she had to have several tests. I can't remember how many, I think 2....one right after the incident, and one three months after. I think they said on the show that her chances of being infecte were "near zero." Still, when something like this happens to you, it's hard not to get paranoid and worried about the near-zero-but-still-more-than-zero-as-far-as-I'm-concerned chances.

SCARY.

 

[crazy_cavalier]

probably close to never seeing as how the surgeon would know that the patient hes working on is infected... unless hes a complete idiot and overlooks it without taking the right precautions.

Do you know what "Universal Precautions" is?? Surgeons treat all patients the same in this regard. It's not like the chart is going to say, "hey, this guy is completely free of blood-bourne diseases, go ahead and bob for apples in his perineum!" You use the same level of precaution to avoid exposures throughout.

That said, the chance of transmission of HIV to a surgeon is still very, very low. It's downright ignorant to shy away from this specialty for that reason alone. That's like saying "well, I don't wanna do medicine either because I might get sick!"

 

[Cmercury1]

Yes! (I have House seasons on DVD )

I think her exams came back negative (her name is Dr. Cameron), but she had to have several tests. I can't remember how many, I think 2....one right after the incident, and one three months after. I think they said on the show that her chances of being infecte were "near zero." Still, when something like this happens to you, it's hard not to get paranoid and worried about the near zero but still more-than-zero-as-far-as-I'm-concerned chances.

SCARY.

Yeah, I know what you mean. Also, something like that isn't nearly as preventable as surgical precautions.

 

[baylormed]

Do you know what "Universal Precautions" is?? Surgeons treat all patients the same in this regard. It's not like the chart is going to say, "hey, this guy is completely free of blood-bourne diseases, go ahead and bob for apples in his perineum!" You use the same level of precaution to avoid exposures throughout.

That said, the chance of transmission of HIV to a surgeon is still very, very low. It's downright ignorant to shy away from this specialty for that reason alone. That's like saying "well, I don't wanna do medicine either because I might get sick!"

I'm afraid there is a difference between getting a cold, or even something like TB from a patient, and getting HIV.

 

[riceman04]

Surgeons don't know if a patient is infected unless the patient has a documented HIV test in his or her records. Patients are not required to take HIV tests prior to surgery for the surgeon's information.

This brings up the question whether or not you guys agree with the idea of implementing a policy making HIV tests a standard part of tests done when blood is drawn (at the clinic/docs office/hospital/etc..). What are yall's opinions?
(I hope I am not repeating this question)

 

[riceman04]

I have seen many surgeries on scrubs, house, and greys anatomy and there has been no cases contracted by any of the surgeons, so ZERO chance!

dawg are you really trying to troll?

if so, try again!

 

[emtji]

How common is it that a surgeon contracts HIV from a patient during surgery? any thoughts?😱

oh, it happens. it takes a wide bore needle and a good stick in order to transmit, but healthcare people have contracted hep c and hiv. there was an instance recently written about in the hospital newsletter of a paramedic contracting hep c by an accidental needle stick.

it's the hepatobiliary surgeons (liver transplant) folk that get exposed the most often. don't discount it. infectious disease is actually one of the (many) reasons why i'm going into radiology.

 

[crazy_cavalier]

I'm afraid there is a difference between getting a cold, or even something like TB from a patient, and getting HIV.

😴 I'm afraid you missed my point.

 

[baylormed]

😴 I'm afraid you missed my point.

And I'm afraid you missed mine. 😴 😴 😴

 

[63768]

This may sound a bit off-topic but say we do become surgeons, do we have the right to refuse to operate on someone who is infected with blood diseases. I am talking rights as in LAW, not as is an oath or someother dumb thing. Also i am talking orthopedics not ER.

somehow, i don't think that's going to fly. maybe you can give the patient to someone else, but i don't think you can flat out refuse. being infected and getting sick is a risk of the job. i'm not saying we should be oblivious to it, but you can't refuse to do your job because you're a wuss.

and i agree with crazycavalier. shying away from a specialty simply because you're afraid of being infected is pretty immature. you're at risk for infection in any field, regardless of disease. i mean, rads is about as low of a risk as you can get, but the difference is marginal.

 

[crazy_cavalier]

This may sound a bit off-topic but say we do become surgeons, do we have the right to refuse to operate on someone who is infected with blood diseases. I am talking rights as in LAW, not as is an oath or someother dumb thing. Also i am talking orthopedics not ER.

Already gunning for ortho, I see?

 

[crazy_cavalier]

And I'm afraid you missed mine. 😴 😴 😴

No, I understand that you're scared of contracting a chronic, lethal disease, and that contracting a cold doesn't mean as much. Who isn't? That's a really obvious point.

What you don't understand, however, is that there's a slippery slope that goes between the two. Why stop at avoiding surgery because of the possibility of contracting HIV? Why not avoid medicine altogether? The two are related by the same sort of mentality.

Although, for what it's worth, I get where you're coming from. Too bad we can't ALL be radiologist and avoid patient contact altogether 😴 😴 😴 😴 😴 😴 😴

 

[baylormed]

No, I understand that you're scared of contracting a chronic, lethal disease, and that contracting a cold doesn't mean as much. Who isn't? That's a really obvious point.

What you don't understand, however, is that there's a slippery slope that goes between the two. Why stop at avoiding surgery because of the possibility of contracting HIV? Why not avoid medicine altogether? The two are related by the same sort of mentality.

Although, for what it's worth, I get where you're coming from. Too bad we can't ALL be radiologist and avoid patient contact altogether 😴 😴 😴 😴 😴 😴 😴

Huh?

I thought my point answered your question. I'm more afraid of the HIV than of the cold/TB/pneumonia patient. See the difference?

 

[riceman04]

Wow! Its funny how tight-strung some of these sdners are, they dont even realize a clearly stated "JOKE".

naw...I'm definitely not tight strung...I guess I was replying to both of your original posts

 

[Whisker Barrel Cortex]

"hey, this guy is completely free of blood-bourne diseases, go ahead and bob for apples in his perineum!"

Ok, I don't usually come to this forum, but this thread is cracking me up. I hope you meant peritoneum. The perineum is what is also known as the "taint." This is the area between the anus and scrotum or vagina. Bobbin for apples there would not only be nasty, but also probably open you up to charges of sexual misconduct.

Secondly, all radiologists (not just interventional) generally do procedures (biopsies, fluid drainages, etc.) using long and sharp needles.

Thirdly, the risk of any transmission of HIV is exceedingly small as long as you use precautions with every patient. Hep C is probably more of a concern. If you use universal precautions at all times, you can minimize the risk.

 

[instigata]

Ok, I don't usually come to this forum, but this thread is cracking me up. I hope you meant peritoneum. The perineum is what is also known as the "taint." This is the area between the anus and scrotum or vagina. Bobbin for apples there would not only be nasty, but also probably open you up to charges of sexual misconduct.

Secondly, all radiologists (not just interventional) generally do procedures (biopsies, fluid drainages, etc.) using long and sharp needles.

Thirdly, the risk of any transmission of HIV is exceedingly small as long as you use precautions with every patient. Hep C is probably more of a concern. If you use universal precautions at all times, you can minimize the risk.

I believe this calls for an "OWNED" remark

 

[Rafa]

^ Posts like those suggest we should all just keep our mouths shut when in doubt...

 

[MonkeyNuts!]

This is the area between the anus and scrotum or vagina. Bobbin for apples there would not only be nasty, but also probably open you up to charges of sexual misconduct.

This gives me an idea from my next Halloween party.

 

[riceman04]

You quoted me (the one above yours) and replyed to that. So I dont see how you can backpeddle your way out of this one. I mean it doesnt quote itself. Anyways just learn to relax and take it easy as med school will be tougher than anything you have seen before.

No actually I was replying to a combination of that post you just quoted and this one:

This may sound a bit off-topic but say we do become surgeons, do we have the right to refuse to operate on someone who is infected with blood diseases. I am talking rights as in LAW, not as is an oath or someother dumb thing. Also i am talking orthopedics not ER.

But whatever...I dont believe in sweating small ish like that...I am sure that you just wanted an opportunity to give people who post on this forum some form of advice....So I guess all I can say to that is: go ahead Doc....diagnose my problem....😉