I come accross soaked sponges with blood in the surgery room & prefer to know.
Yes, i use gloves & make sure i don't get blood on any open wounds. Regardeless i get these answers & not what i've asked.
2007-02-16 22:52:15 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ STDs
as long as the blood is still wet, HIV can be active. HIV doen't survive in air long or in dried blood. but better be safe than sorry, use all safety proceedures
2007-02-16 23:06:22 · answer #1 · answered by oldguy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Since you're in a surgery room, I assume you're thinking of a gauze sponge. HIV may live some time longer in a soaked sponge just because it may stay warmer a little longer though the coolness of the OR may work against that as well. Even so, as you probably know, that environment (the soaked sponge) is not one that the HIV can thrive in, attach itself to blood cells, replicate. Outside of the body, or in some laboratory environments, HIV doesn't have much of a chance.
Also, as you probably know, the right circumstances would have to be present to acquire HIV in this particular setting-almost immediate contact with a significant open wound.
I hope I answered your question. And continue to be careful.
2007-02-17 07:08:54 · answer #2 · answered by gottaplaygirl 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should be asking a specialist in the infectious diseases area, not us here. I don't know how long HIV virus would last, but if you can't find the answers you're looking for, double up on the gloves and use another instrument or perhaps a plastic bag turned inside out to grab them, then you can turn the bags right side in and toss away.
I know this isn't what you're looking for, but I do hope you find it.
2007-02-17 06:58:46 · answer #3 · answered by Laurie K 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋