What diseases can I get from a used needle?
Patient: Hi, I accidentally pricked my thumb last week with my other half’s used insulin needle. He doesn’t have any disease but I am now worried that I could become unwell with something nasty like HIV OR HEP B. I didn’t think much of it at the time but now I’m starting to worry. Doctor: Hi,  1. First of all, it was your husband's used needle. I would like to take it as obvious that you know your husband's infection status e.g HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C.  2. It says if the source (your husband in this case) is negative of any kind of infection then you need not to worry. 3. It also says that if the source is suffering from any of the infection described above then it's better to take your laboratory test in the window period (entry of organism to detection of antibodies inside the person) itself and start the medicine for that.  Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.  Regards, Dr. Harshita, Infectious Diseases Specialist