Sharing lancing device and risk of infection

[andalsonofeden]

If you have your blood sugar checked in hospital, ie on the ward as a patient, the same device will be used for all the patients.

I've not seen anyone take the trouble to clean the device in between patients. The lancet and the strip is new for each patient, though.

Yes so by changing lancet and strip for each patient, is there any risk of infection of some sort?

 

[Farzand Ali]

Thank you for answering. Yes, I used the new lancet in that lancing pen. Can you please tell me that if I can get diabetes this way? I mean by sharing equipment like this.

Edit: The guy who replied before you said that I will get hepatitis B.

Diabetes can't be transferred from one patient to another.
Since you are using new Lancet so there is no danger of receiving ant disease

 

[Dodo]

If you have your blood sugar checked in hospital, ie on the ward as a patient, the same device will be used for all the patients.

I've not seen anyone take the trouble to clean the device in between patients. The lancet and the strip is new for each patient, though.

I was just about to the same reply.

 

[andalsonofeden]

Diabetes can't be transferred from one patient to another.
Since you are using new Lancet so there is no danger of receiving ant disease

Yes but I was just reading on the CDC website that sharing the outer body of fingerstick pen can cause deadly diseases.

 

[Farzand Ali]

Yes but I was just reading on the CDC website that sharing the outer body of fingerstick pen can cause deadly diseases.

I don't think so because this pen doesn't make any contact with the blood. It's only pin of the Lancet that makes connection with the blood.

 

[Rachox]

If you have your blood sugar checked in hospital, ie on the ward as a patient, the same device will be used for all the patients.

I've not seen anyone take the trouble to clean the device in between patients. The lancet and the strip is new for each patient, though.

You obviously didn’t come to the ward where I worked before retirement. It was a ward that specialised in infections and infectious diseases. The machine was cleaned between patients but it really was belt and braces, the risk of passing blood born diseases on really is infinitesimal unless there is blood dripping off the equipment.

 

[bulkbiker]

Yes but I was just reading on the CDC website that sharing the outer body of fingerstick pen can cause deadly diseases.

Does your mother (whose kit you used) have any deadly diseases? If not don't fret over it and next time get your own.

 

[Resurgam]

When my daughter in law used my kit to test her BG when she was pregnant I - out of common courtesy, wiped the outside of all of the things before she touched them, and when I had inserted the new lancet I had used the swab to twist off the cover. I then cleaned off things before packing them away, collected the swabs the used strip and the recovered lancet and took them away with me.
All entirely unnecessary, but I would feel uneasy about doing anything less.

 

[Energize]

You obviously didn’t come to the ward where I worked before retirement. It was a ward that specialised in infections and infectious diseases. The machine was cleaned between patients but it really was belt and braces, the risk of passing blood born diseases on really is infinitesimal unless there is blood dripping off the equipment.

No, you're right, @Rachox
Maybe practices have changed since I was last in hospital

 

[andalsonofeden]

Diabetes can't be transferred from one patient to another.
Since you are using new Lancet so there is no danger of receiving ant disease

Check this link: https://www.healthline.com/health/blood-glucose-monitoring#procedure

it says

spreading certain illnesses, such as

• HIV
• AIDS
• Hepatitis B
• Hepatitis C

You should never share needles or finger-stick devices for any reason.

 

[bulkbiker]

Check this link: https://www.healthline.com/health/blood-glucose-monitoring#procedure

it says

When they say finger prick devices they are referring to lancets.. please read the article you link to.

 

[andalsonofeden]

When they say finger prick devices they are referring to lancets.. please read the article you link to.

Edit: Yes you are right about that link. But as per CDC Fingerstick devices are lancing devices that hold the lancet.

CDC Website states:

This notice serves as a reminder that fingerstick devices should never be used for more than one person.

• Reusable Devices: These devices often resemble a pen and have the means to remove and replace the lancet after each use, allowing the device to be used more than once (see Figure 1). Due to difficulties with cleaning and disinfection after use and their link to numerous outbreaks, CDC recommends that these devices never be used for more than one person. If these devices are used, it should only be by individual persons using these devices for self-monitoring of blood glucose.

• Fingerstick devices should never be used for more than one person.

CDC link: https://www.cdc.gov/injectionsafety/fingerstick-devicesbgm.html

 

[JohnEGreen]

I think you have more chance of contracting a communicable disease when opening a door.

Depending on who opened or closed the door before you.

 

[luv2spin]

Since your mother has the condition of diabetes, although the % of genetic occurrence is not that great, you ought to be visiting the doctor to see if you are or likely to be having diabetes too.

 

[andalsonofeden]

Since your mother has the condition of diabetes, although the % of genetic occurrence is not that great, you ought to be visiting the doctor to see if you are or likely to be having diabetes too.

I checked my glucose levels and it was at 80 in the morning with fasting so my blood sugar levels are perfectly normal i guess

 

[Rifkah]

This is really worrying advice you're receiving. Stick with CDC.
Certain chemicals can be used to clean equipment to denature viruses and bacteria.
It is likely the person who worked on ward was unaware of the special cleaning fluid being used.
A "quick wipe" without these chemicals and the drying time they need would not destroy blood borne viruses.
Actually HIV is one of the ones you least have to worry about, it's pretty poor at surviving outside the body.
It's not sexually transmitted diseases you need to worry about but blood borne ones.

But what do I know I just some person on the Internet.

 

[andalsonofeden]

This is really worrying advice you're receiving. Stick with CDC.
Certain chemicals can be used to clean equipment to denature viruses and bacteria.
It is likely the person who worked on ward was unaware of the special cleaning fluid being used.
A "quick wipe" without these chemicals and the drying time they need would not destroy blood borne viruses.
Actually HIV is one of the ones you least have to worry about, it's pretty poor at surviving outside the body.
It's not sexually transmitted diseases you need to worry about but blood borne ones.

But what do I know I just some person on the Internet.

I just talked to a physician on a phone call. She said that I do not have any material risk. Sharing the device after changing the needle has the risk of HBV (Hepatitis B Virus) but it is extremely low and negligible. Anyhow, I know that my mom is not a patient of Hepatitis so there is no risk at all i guess then

 

[luv2spin]

@andalsonofeden I believe someone has already mentioned this previously but, that, on it's own is not enough, if there is someone with diabetes in your family tree, the book says that, at least a doctor's visit is advisable. Even if there are no known family members who have diabetes, from the age of 40, each and every member of the population is advised to be tested by medicals. They do the tests differently.

But, I don't live in the UK, it might be different over there, you can ask your local doctor.

 

[Jaylee]

I just talked to a physician on a phone call. She said that I do not have any material risk. Sharing the device after changing the needle has the risk of HBV (Hepatitis B Virus) but it is extremely low and negligible. Anyhow, I know that my mom is not a patient of Hepatitis so there is no risk at all i guess then

This pretty much also depends on your own previous historical activity? @andalsonofeden .

It's a "two way street" when messing with someone else's kit...

 

[andalsonofeden]

This pretty much also depends on your own previous historical activity? @andalsonofeden .

It's a "two way street" when messing with someone else's kit...

It is getting serious. I mean are you talking about my mom getting some sort of blood infection from me?