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I have read on the Internet several
stories about people getting stuck by needles in phone booth
coin returns, movie theater seats, gas pump handles, and other
places. One story said that CDC reported similar incidents about
improperly discarded needles and syringes.
Are these
stories true?
CDC has received inquiries
about a variety of reports or warnings about used needles left
by HIV-infected injection drug users in coin return slots of
pay phones, the underside of gas pump handles, and on movie theater
seats. These reports and warnings are being circulated on the
Internet and by e-mail and fax. Some reports have falsely indicated
that CDC "confirmed" the presence of HIV in the needles.
CDC has not tested such needles nor has CDC confirmed the presence
or absence of HIV in any sample related to these rumors. The
majority of these reports and warnings appear to have no foundation
in fact.
CDC recently was informed
of one incident in Virginia of a needle stick from a small-gauge
needle (believed to be an insulin needle) in a coin return slot
of a pay phone. The incident was investigated by the local police
department. Several days later, after a report of this police
action appeared in the local newspaper, a needle was found in
a vending machine but did not cause a needle-stick injury.
Discarded needles are sometimes
found in the community outside of health care settings. These
needles are believed to have been discarded by persons who use
insulin or are injection drug users. Occasionally the "public"
and certain groups of workers (e.g., sanitation workers or housekeeping
staff) may sustain needle-stick injuries involving inappropriately
discarded needles. Needle-stick injuries can transfer blood and
blood-borne pathogens (e.g., hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV),
but the risk of transmission from discarded needles is extremely
low.
CDC does not recommend testing
discarded needles to assess the presence or absence of infectious
agents in the needles. Management of exposed persons should be
done on a case-by-case evaluation of (1) the risk of a blood-borne
pathogen infection in the source and (2) the nature of the injury.
Anyone who is injured from a needle stick in a community setting
should contact their physician or go to an emergency room as
soon as possible. The injury should be reported to the local
or state health departments. CDC is not aware of any cases where
HIV has been transmitted by a needle-stick injury outside a health
care setting. |
