Yesterday I went to a clinic to remove my skin tags. The doctor injected local anaesthesia before start removing my ski tags. Below are my question : 

1) what if they reused the needle from previous patient? Do you think hiv can stay there? First of all, can they reused? Design for reused? 

2) the injection is not deep but still my blood came out. Do you consider it as deep enough to cause transmission? I remember reading your comment before if hiv injected deep into tissue can cause transmission. 

3) assuming they reuse the needle. I’m sure the previous patient’s blood would have mixed with the local anaesthesia liquid when they drew before they inject on me. Can hiv survive when it’s mixed with that liquid? Cuz I remember reading, for transmission to happen the blood should be pure & fresh. 

4) do I need PEP? 

Your answers will really help me to stay calm. Thank you

1) No doctor or clinic ever reuses needles, especially since the risk of HIV transmission became known 30-40 years ago. Since then, probably not a single person has acquired HIV from a medical treatment of any kind, including billions of injections. (The single known case was in the 1980s, when an HIV infected dentist is believed to have intentionally injected his own blood into a couple of patients. He was never prosecuted because he died too soon of AIDS.) And indeed most needles and injection and blood drawing equipment are designed to prevent reuse.

2) The depth of the injection doesn't matter. The degree of injury can raise risk only if someone's HIV infected blood is involved.

3) I do not accept the premise that the needle was reused. It's an irrational proposition.

4) Of course you do not need PEP. No ethical doctor would agree to prescribe it in this situation, assuming you truthfully described the reason you were asking about it.

Best wishes. Let me know if anything isn't clear.

HHH, MD

Truly appreciate your reply. 

I know mine was a silly question. However , the fear is always there. I attending for this fear and I can see improvement in myself. 

Just to check on my 3rd question, if there is really blood on the needle and it would have mix with the local anaesthesia cuz the nurse drew the liquid first from a small bottle. If it’s mixed, then the HIV viruses won’t survived right? Cuz the blood is no more fresh or pure. 

Sorry for my English.