Catching an STD while examining patient

Hey gang-

I have been reading about nurses and doctors who have caught STDs while examining their patients... does this worry any of you ? I know the most common infection among nurses is hepectic whitlow; any others you guys can think of or care to share ?
If any nurse or doctor catches an STD while examining a patient I'd say they are doing a whole lot more than just the "exam".

Quote from PAERRN20If any nurse or doctor catches an STD while examining a patient I'd say they are doing a whole lot more than just the "exam".

I am always amazed when I hear nothing in report about infectious disease and then realize only after IV start or blood draw that the patient has hep c or something. Thank God for standard precautions!

cdc - health care workers - niosh workplace safety and health topichepatitis b+ c are #1 most common healthcare worker acquired infection per occupationally acquired infections in health care workersworking since the dark ages of mid 70's when gloves only used for wound care.... only infection picked up from patients was viral uri when i switched from resp/telemetry unit to renal floor my sr year of college..... gotten much more infections from 2 sons bringing things home from school.good hand hygiene+ wearing mask prn, double bagging patient waste in hospital/homes, washing hands thoroughly upon leaving patient rooms, adequate air circulation in facilities, bleaching good old white uniforms, along with getting immunizations has been #1 preventive measures for nurses for eons.

Quote from johnny depp23Hey gang-I have been reading about nurses and doctors who have caught STDs while examining their patients... does this worry any of you ? I know the most common infection among nurses is hepectic whitlow; any others you guys can think of or care to share ?

Johnny - please post your sources. In 30+ years of nursing I have never known anyone to catch anything except Hepatitis in the days prior to the vaccines.And I haven't even heard the term 'herpetic whitlow' in 20 years!

Hepatitis and HIV can be transmitted through the blood as well as sexually. So I imagine this is how this is occurring. (ie. accidental needle sticks)

Quote from johnny depp23Hey gang-I have been reading about nurses and doctors who have caught STDs while examining their patients... does this worry any of you ? I know the most common infection among nurses is hepectic whitlow; any others you guys can think of or care to share ?

Where are you reading this? Grey's Anatomy Times?

OP's posts always are a tad bit, shall we say, on the interesting side.......

considering that, what is it, 80% of the population has hsv1(cold sores), and 1 in 4 have hsv2(aka genital herpes; although hsv1 can present genitally as well), it is not uncommon to have herpes.with this being said, unless you are kissing, having sexual relations, or touching open sores with bare hands and then licking them or touching yourself, i am going to go out on a limb and say it is really of little concern.hepatitis, now that is the concern. thank goodness for vaccines!

Quote from violetkaliconsidering that, what is it, 80% of the population has hsv1(cold sores), and 1 in 4 have hsv2(aka genital herpes; although hsv1 can present genitally as well), it is not uncommon to have herpes.with this being said, unless you are kissing, having sexual relations, or touching open sores with bare hands and then licking them or touching yourself, i am going to go out on a limb and say it is really of little concern.