Hi doctors, I know this is a silly question, but I am a little worried about it.  I recently had an ER visit, and was given an IV for fluids and the nurse injected my IV with a large syringe out of a vile/container of liquid, was told it was even anti-nausea medicine.  I know that hospitals in the US have protocols, but I was also made aware that ERs due to the rapid nature can cause spread of infectious diseases.  This scared me a little, I am trying to have a baby, so I don't know I need to be tested for HIV or Hep?  Thanks for any reassurance. 

Welcome to the forum. In addition to your apparent awareness of low risk ("I know this is a silly question"), your email address (Scaredfornoreason) also is a clue! You are exactly right, both times!---

Thanks Dr Handsfield. I just came across some articles about hospital settings and clinics that had to have past patients tested due to  possible exposure to diseases.....scary stuff.  And by rapid nature I meant nurses might not always (not purposely) follow protocol due to the sheer number of people moving through the ER.  I just don’t remember the nurse taking the equipment out from packaging in front of me, so I got concerned. But I understand most equipment is supposed to be single use.

The sorts of events you describe -- such as a nurse or other health professional being infected and perhaps infecting patients through poor injection technique -- are exceedingly rare. Don't get spooked by such media reports. There has never been any report or even a hint of risk of transmission of blood borne infections simply because the medical facility is a busy one, such as an urban emergency room. This really shouldn't be a cause for concern.---

Thanks Dr Handsfield! Yes it helps! I have a close friend in the medical field who echoed your words and said there is a higher chance of being hit by lightening than being infected. There is training and protocol that is followed in emergency medicine, the media reports just scared me.  I will follow your advice and not get tested and move on. Thanks again! 

Sorry Dr Handsfield, I just have one last question, its been a week now since my ER visit and I have fallen ill.  My mind cant help but wonder, particulary since I am trying for a child, should I be tested?  I would hate to put my partner at any risk.  Sorry but I felt it was important to ask.  Thanks for any advice or recommendations. 

This doesn't change my opinion or advice, i.e. there was no risk of HIV or other blood borne infections due to the procedures used when you were in the ER.---

Hi Dr Handsfield, I have a severe sore throat, diarrhea, severe nausea, headache, complete lack of appetite, weight loss and night sweats. I just do not want to put my partner and potential unborn baby at any risk.  I am hoping your advice can calm me down. I just want to get this thought out of the back of my mind. The symptoms showed up and I become worried. I understand millions of people go to the ER annually and  receive IVs medication etc. I just know the use of multi dose vials can be tricky and that is what was used on me.  It’s my health and I am just nervous.  Should I continue to try and conceive or wait to test? 

These symptoms are typical for any number of infections, mostly due to viruses. Although acute retroviral syndrome (ARS, i.e. initial HIV infection) could do this, onset in a week or less is strong evidence against it, and my comments about lack of risk in the ER are unchanged. You also don't describe fever or the typical skin rash or enlarged/inflamed lymph nodes that often accompany ARS. Another clue that this is not HIV will come if the symptoms clear up after 2-3 days, which is typical of most garden variety viral infection, whereas ARS generally lasts 1-3 weeks. If anyone around you has had a similar illness recently, that would probably be the source of your infection. Or it could be any casual contact you had with a friend, a grocery clerk, or anyone else.---

Thanks Dr. Handsfield.

An individual news report means little or nothing. We also read from time to time of people being struck by lightning, but that doesn't raise your risk of being struck someday. The very fact that such an event resulted in a news story is evidence of how rare it is. (If this sort of thing were common, it wouldn't be in the news!)---