Aids HIV FAQ

Non Sterile Sigmoidoscopies

Question:

My dr says about half his clientelle are HIV positive. He is confident that the virus is *extremely* un-hearty and dies very rapidly when exposed to air–when outside of body fluids of the right moisture and temp, that is.  This is one reason the disease is extremely difficult to contract–iif it were transmittable in any casual way, the population would be overwhelmed with it. (I am not saying not to practice "unsafe sex" when I say it is difficult to transmit–just that it does not transmit like flu or colds or the like). Condoms aren’t perfect because they leak, fall off, etc., but not because of the pores in good-quality LATEX versions; HIV and other viruses can make it through lambskin, etc. styles, seems to be the accepted view. John

Response:

>Genie, >  I think maybe they were talking about Hepatis B not HIV.  

The statement that I was responding to was:  " Absolutely continue to follow up on the bedpans and bloody room etc! You are  right in saying (in your previous note) that HIV dies within just a few seconds of exposure to air.  Unfortunately many other diseases do not…especially Hepatitis B, which can exist outside the body for up to a week, and is HIGHLY  contagious! " Jan…  

Response:

Forgive my ignorance here Jan, but HIV and AIDS was just becoming an issue when I left nursing.  My understanding was that the AIDS virus is smaller than the pores in a condom, but I only heard that stated once back in 1987.  All I hear now is that it is recommended that people use condoms to prevent the spread of AIDS amongst other things.  So do you know which is correct?  I have not kept up with any of this.  Thanks. — DAWN/Bonnie

Response:

>That last sentence is actually pretty illogical and runs counter to >all current speculation about the politicalization of AIDs, the >whole point of which is to get lots of funds for research for a cure. >To do that, one actually wants people to think the illness is heavily >contagious outside the group so that the greatest number of people >possible get worried and donate money.  If people think that only >a small segment of the population is at risk, and it’s a small >population that many are prejudiced against anyway, that infected >group is toast.  

In addition to being a highly contagious and fatal  disease, AIDS is very highly charged POLITICAL issue.   The push is for victims to be labeled as individuals  with a *disability* (with all the attendant legal protections) and not as individuals with a highly contagious, fatal disease. I do not believe the group most most affected by AIDS has any wish for the general population to think they are at risk for contracting the disease. Also, I don’t believe you’ll find that AIDS research is dependent upon donations from the general public.   What do you suppose the public outcry would be if it was announced that AIDS sufferers were spreading virus around which could remain viable outside the body for weeks?  No doubt people would continue to think it’s just fine for someone with full-blown AIDS to continue (as they presently can) working, say, in the kitchen of their favorite restaurant…  yes?  Think again!  You’d  more likely hear the public hollering about rounding them up and placing them in a quarantined area where they could not infect healthy individuals. No flames, please.  I’m not dissing anyone, I’m talking about a disease-causing organism. Jan…  

Response:

>My sister has a friend who has been a detective with the LAPD for many years. >He took a group of youth from her school to the Crime Lab for a tour.  During >that visit, they were told of experiments the crime lab had done to determine >how long HIV virus remained viable, and I think the results would shock >everyone.  Viable after infected body fluids had been exposed to air for three >weeks!  Looks like there’s a whole lot we aren’t hearing about because a >certain group with a contagious and deadly disease want special treatment. >Jan…  

That last sentence is actually pretty illogical and runs counter to all current speculation about the politicalization of AIDs, the whole point of which is to get lots of funds for research for a cure. To do that, one actually wants people to think the illness is heavily contagious outside the group so that the greatest number of people possible get worried and donate money.  If people think that only a small segment of the population is at risk, and it’s a small population that many are prejudiced against anyway, that infected group is toast.  

Response:

Genie,   I think maybe they were talking about Hepatis B not HIV.   Carole – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >how long HIV virus remained viable, and I think the results would shock >everyone.  Viable after infected body fluids had been exposed to air for three >weeks!  Looks like there’s a whole lot we aren’t hearing about because a >certain group with a contagious and deadly disease want special treatment. >Jan…

Response:

>I was told that there was no way HIV could survive air exposure–hence the >frequent dried blood I was told not to worry about on walls and floors (NOT >tools!), but now I’m starting to worry a bit!  I just had kidney surgery and >was dumped into a bed which had not been changed since a previous occupant, >but >I raised hell until they changed the sheets out from under me.  There was >blood >all over the toilet and sink (and I added more!), and basically I was glad to >get out of there. (This last month at UC-San Francisco) >What exactly is the story about HIV and IBDers????  

My sister has a friend who has been a detective with the LAPD for many years. He took a group of youth from her school to the Crime Lab for a tour.  During that visit, they were told of experiments the crime lab had done to determine how long HIV virus remained viable, and I think the results would shock everyone.  Viable after infected body fluids had been exposed to air for three weeks!  Looks like there’s a whole lot we aren’t hearing about because a certain group with a contagious and deadly disease want special treatment. Jan…  

Response:

>What was Tony Bennett REALLY trying to tell us when he sang, >"I Left My Heart In San Francisco?"

Tony probably went in for a tennis elbow problem and just came out that way…. Seriously, though–Some UCSF employees blamed the problems there on the recent merger with private Stanford UMed Center and subsequent big budget cuts. Another problem *I* faced was that I was never actually admitted to the hospital because my insurance wouldn’t approve it (said kidney surgery was out-patioent only!), so there was never any paperwork processing a slot–or bed–for me. I was only there one night–left about 10 the next night, as soon as the 2 drains and one IV and one catheter were removed so I could walk, since they were frantic to get me out in case they didn’t get paid!  Just before I left they gave me a plastic ID bracelet–I had been nervous about having no I.D. but it was a bit late by then. I live across the bay in Oakland–where Kaiser Hospital is closing in May, eliminating about a third of the beds in the East Bay where there is already a waiting list for a bed.  2 of the other 3 hospitals are merging and being taken over by Sutter Hospital Corp, which has us locals quite worried. We’ll be down to a couple of dozen critical care beds from a couple of hundred a few years ago.  All right on the San Andreas and Hayward Fault lines with half a million people.  But I digress…!  This fits in with the local trend to cut back on what insurance covers, I guess. John

Response:

I’ll look for Echo Heron books. I recently read a supposedly famous novel by a doctor about interns…Shem?  Intro by John Updike calls it Catch-22 for hospitals! John

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->If you are referring to the messy SF hospital, Yes, I complained about no >clean >linens or bathroom (shared with many others).  They replied that rooms were >cleaned weekly or as needed….  They did not have the budget to swab things >out after each patient. >I was having a sig a few years ago in a little room just off the ER, and to >my >amazement a tour group was brought in and everyone was invited to take a >look! >A dozen or so student nurses from the college where I taught, including many >in >my intro anthro class!!  One with an instamatic flash camera (who later gave >me >a copy of a print!).  I was later able to address the class and say that some >of them certainly had a deep understanding of their teacher…..   With IBD, >you learn to have a sense of humor or perish! >The bloody room, unemptied bedpansof earlier occupants and so forth are much >more troublesome, and I am pursuing the matter, altho warned not to.

I’d be reporting that place to every regulatory agency in the book, and any investigative media person who would listen.   Jan…  

Response:

>I just had kidney surgery and >was dumped into a bed which had not been changed since a previous occupant, but >I raised hell until they changed the sheets out from under me.  There was blood >all over the toilet and sink (and I added more!), and basically I was glad to >get out of there. (This last month at UC-San Francisco)

John, are you SURE this happened at a university hospital in San Francisco, USA, and not in some backwater clinic in Azerbaijan, Congo, or Bangladesh? San Francisco may be a nice place to visit, but I wouldn’t want to get sick there. What was Tony Bennett REALLY trying to tell us when he sang, "I Left My Heart In San Francisco?" — Wayne Marsh – Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

Response:

John,   Have you ever read the books by Echo Heron, RN ?  If I remember correct one was called "Critical Care – the state of health care in America".  She spoke quite a bit about the conditions she was forced to work under – changing names and situations just enough to not compromise confidentiality. I read her books not long after I started working as a nurse, and, although I was fortunately not working in an identical situation, the similarities were enough to both shake me and reassure me.  I had thought that I just wasn’t measuring up to my chosen profession – her books showed me that I was not the only one feeling the way that I did about the pressures placed upon me in my nursing career.   What brought this up is that she was a critical care nurse in SF for many many years.  I highly recommend her books to anyone who wants to know what nursing is like these days…..  I gave my copy of her book to my mother in an attempt to show her what my life was now like.   Adding IBD into my life just made it a bit more interesting! <G> Carole – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->What was Tony Bennett REALLY trying to tell us when he sang, >"I Left My Heart In San Francisco?" >Tony probably went in for a tennis elbow problem and just came out that way…. >Seriously, though–Some UCSF employees blamed the problems there on the recent >merger with private Stanford UMed Center and subsequent big budget cuts. >Another problem *I* faced was that I was never actually admitted to the >hospital because my insurance wouldn’t approve it (said kidney surgery was >out-patioent only!), so there was never any paperwork processing a slot–or >bed–for me. I was only there one night–left about 10 the next night, as soon >as the 2 drains and one IV and one catheter were removed so I could walk, since >they were frantic to get me out in case they didn’t get paid!  Just before I >left they gave me a plastic ID bracelet–I had been nervous about having no >I.D. but it was a bit late by then. >I live across the bay in Oakland–where Kaiser Hospital is closing in May, >eliminating about a third of the beds in the East Bay where there is already a >waiting list for a bed.  2 of the other 3 hospitals are merging and being taken >over by Sutter Hospital Corp, which has us locals quite worried. We’ll be down >to a couple of dozen critical care beds from a couple of hundred a few years >ago.  All right on the San Andreas and Hayward Fault lines with half a million >people.  But I digress…!  This fits in with the local trend to cut back on >what insurance covers, I guess. >John

Response:

John,    Absolutely continue to follow up on the bedpans and bloody room etc! You are  right in saying (in your previous note) that HIV dies within just a few seconds of exposure to air.  Unfortunately many other diseases do not…especially Hepatitis B, which can exist outside the body for up to a week, and is HIGHLY  contagious!  I would even go so far as to have you consider having your blood checked for this disease, and if you’re still ok, getting the vaccine.  We are all considered immunocompromised, and that is NOT  a bug you want to get.   As for the student tour during your scope – I am both appalled and amused. <G>   The student with the camera was way out of line – but at least she shared it with you! Carole – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Have you reported these events to >the hospital? >If you are referring to the messy SF hospital, Yes, I complained about no clean >linens or bathroom (shared with many others).  They replied that rooms were >cleaned weekly or as needed….  They did not have the budget to swab things >out after each patient. >I was having a sig a few years ago in a little room just off the ER, and to my >amazement a tour group was brought in and everyone was invited to take a look! >A dozen or so student nurses from the college where I taught, including many in >my intro anthro class!!  One with an instamatic flash camera (who later gave me >a copy of a print!).  I was later able to address the class and say that some >of them certainly had a deep understanding of their teacher…..   With IBD, >you learn to have a sense of humor or perish! >The bloody room, unemptied bedpansof earlier occupants and so forth are much >more troublesome, and I am pursuing the matter, altho warned not to. >John

Response:

>Have you reported these events to >the hospital?

If you are referring to the messy SF hospital, Yes, I complained about no clean linens or bathroom (shared with many others).  They replied that rooms were cleaned weekly or as needed….  They did not have the budget to swab things out after each patient. I was having a sig a few years ago in a little room just off the ER, and to my amazement a tour group was brought in and everyone was invited to take a look! A dozen or so student nurses from the college where I taught, including many in my intro anthro class!!  One with an instamatic flash camera (who later gave me a copy of a print!).  I was later able to address the class and say that some of them certainly had a deep understanding of their teacher…..   With IBD, you learn to have a sense of humor or perish! The bloody room, unemptied bedpansof earlier occupants and so forth are much more troublesome, and I am pursuing the matter, altho warned not to. John

Response:

>As you enter the colonoscopy suite, do you notice that perculiar odor?  Its

luteraldehyde,a type of disinfectent.  Its extremely effective against a>host>of microbes. HIV being  one of the most susceptable. *** I’ve never heard of a "colonoscopy suite."  I’ve always had colonoscopies and sigmoidoscopies in doctors’ offices while crouching ingloriously on the exam table–the kind with a roll of paper pulled down over it.  Well, I guess I did have one in a hospital, but it was FILTHY–a screened exam room off an emergency ward where the only odor was that of 500 prevcious patients that day, most apparently barfing and bleeding! I was told that there was no way HIV could survive air exposure–hence the frequent dried blood I was told not to worry about on walls and floors (NOT tools!), but now I’m starting to worry a bit!  I just had kidney surgery and was dumped into a bed which had not been changed since a previous occupant, but I raised hell until they changed the sheets out from under me.  There was blood all over the toilet and sink (and I added more!), and basically I was glad to get out of there. (This last month at UC-San Francisco) What exactly is the story about HIV and IBDers????  This sounds like something we need to know more about before panicking. On the other hand, my wife was a bit freaked out when my surgeon came down a hall and shook her hand while he wore a glove covered with blood!  She was also worried that she may have transferred germs to HIM, since she had a bad cold and was grabbed by him while he ducked out of surgery for a moment and then returned.  We worried that he may not have changed gloves. Perhaps we should have worried in the other direction! John

Response:

Yes, it’s legit – I saw the Newsweek story and it was pretty creepy. I ripped the article out for future reference but (of course) can’t find it right now- the important piece of info in it was to ask the dr or hospital if they’re following a certain procedure which apparently most of ‘em aren’t. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Is this legit?? >Sigmoidoscopes and colonoscopes are washed under a faucet with soap and water >in my experience.  The little cutting blades are supposed to be dipped in a >sterile solution in addition. >John

Response:

John: What you have stated here is appalling!!! Have you reported these events to the hospital? I have had two colonoscopies and one sig in a "suite". It is a room designed specifically for these procedures. It was small, and FULL of equipment – but very clean and the table was very comfy. I felt like I had wonderful care. It was connected to the outpatient area and I was taken back to outpatient when the procedures were done (except the two times I was admitted). Rebecca – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->As you enter the colonoscopy suite, do you notice that perculiar odor? Its > luteraldehyde,a type of disinfectent.  Its extremely effective against > a>host>of microbes. HIV being  one of the most susceptable. > *** > I’ve never heard of a "colonoscopy suite."  I’ve always had colonoscopies and > sigmoidoscopies in doctors’ offices while crouching ingloriously on the exam > table–the kind with a roll of paper pulled down over it.  Well, I guess I did > have one in a hospital, but it was FILTHY–a screened exam room off an > emergency ward where the only odor was that of 500 prevcious patients that day, > most apparently barfing and bleeding! > I was told that there was no way HIV could survive air exposure–hence the > frequent dried blood I was told not to worry about on walls and floors (NOT > tools!), but now I’m starting to worry a bit!  I just had kidney surgery and > was dumped into a bed which had not been changed since a previous occupant, but > I raised hell until they changed the sheets out from under me.  There was blood > all over the toilet and sink (and I added more!), and basically I was glad to > get out of there. (This last month at UC-San Francisco) > What exactly is the story about HIV and IBDers????  This sounds like something > we need to know more about before panicking. > On the other hand, my wife was a bit freaked out when my surgeon came down a > hall and shook her hand while he wore a glove covered with blood!  She was also > worried that she may have transferred germs to HIM, since she had a bad cold > and was grabbed by him while he ducked out of surgery for a moment and then > returned.  We worried that he may not have changed gloves. Perhaps we should > have worried in the other direction! > John

Response:

As you enter the colonoscopy suite, do you notice that perculiar odor?  Its gluteraldehyde,a type of disinfectent.  Its extremely effective against a host of microbes. HIV being  one of the most susceptable.  Its unfortunate that the scopes cannot be steam sterilized. George

Response:

You can’t, but all they have to do is convince a jury that you can. ::disgusted sigh:: Larry – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > How do you become infected with Crohn’s disease?  It’s NOT CONTAGIOUS!!! > Am I reading this wrong??? > Carole >If you have Crohn’s Disease, HIV, HPV or HCV and you have undergone a >sigmoidoscopy*  in the last several years it is very important that you >contact us as soon as possible. >Thanks, > *A sigmoidoscopy is an examination of the lower intestine. It is >performed with an instrument with a tiny camera on the end for the >purpose of viewing your "innards" to see if  you have polyps, etc. > 99% of the instruments are non sterile (believe it or not) because the >hospitals and docs have refused to pay the extra $30 for a disposable >sheath. It eats into their $200 to $500 profits. >It is becoming common knowledge that many people have been infected >during this procedure – with Crohn’s Disease, HCV, HPV, etc. >There have been articles in USA Today, Newsweek and Fortune within the >last 30 days concerning this medical "cover-up". >I am very familiar with this subject because I am one of the unfortunate >ones who has been infected during this exam – at Mayo Clinic. >I need you help to stop this stop this. >Thanks.

– Larry Finch ::(whew!)

Response:

Also,   The bowel isn’t sterile to begin with….. Carole – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >If you have Crohn’s Disease, HIV, HPV or HCV and you have undergone a >sigmoidoscopy*  in the last several years it is very important that you >contact us as soon as possible. >Thanks, > *A sigmoidoscopy is an examination of the lower intestine. It is >performed with an instrument with a tiny camera on the end for the >purpose of viewing your "innards" to see if  you have polyps, etc. > 99% of the instruments are non sterile (believe it or not) because the >hospitals and docs have refused to pay the extra $30 for a disposable >sheath. It eats into their $200 to $500 profits. >It is becoming common knowledge that many people have been infected >during this procedure – with Crohn’s Disease, HCV, HPV, etc. >There have been articles in USA Today, Newsweek and Fortune within the >last 30 days concerning this medical "cover-up". >I am very familiar with this subject because I am one of the unfortunate >ones who has been infected during this exam – at Mayo Clinic. >I need you help to stop this stop this. >Thanks.

Response:

How do you become infected with Crohn’s disease?  It’s NOT CONTAGIOUS!!! Am I reading this wrong??? Carole – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >If you have Crohn’s Disease, HIV, HPV or HCV and you have undergone a >sigmoidoscopy*  in the last several years it is very important that you >contact us as soon as possible. >Thanks, > *A sigmoidoscopy is an examination of the lower intestine. It is >performed with an instrument with a tiny camera on the end for the >purpose of viewing your "innards" to see if  you have polyps, etc. > 99% of the instruments are non sterile (believe it or not) because the >hospitals and docs have refused to pay the extra $30 for a disposable >sheath. It eats into their $200 to $500 profits. >It is becoming common knowledge that many people have been infected >during this procedure – with Crohn’s Disease, HCV, HPV, etc. >There have been articles in USA Today, Newsweek and Fortune within the >last 30 days concerning this medical "cover-up". >I am very familiar with this subject because I am one of the unfortunate >ones who has been infected during this exam – at Mayo Clinic. >I need you help to stop this stop this. >Thanks.

Response:

I would check the magazines first. — DAWN/Bonnie

Response:

I smell a class action coming on! $$$ for the lawyers, pennies for the "victims", higher insurance for the rest of us. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >Is this legit?? >Sigmoidoscopes and colonoscopes are washed under a faucet with soap and water >in my experience.  The little cutting blades are supposed to be dipped in a >sterile solution in addition. >John

Response:

Is this legit?? Sigmoidoscopes and colonoscopes are washed under a faucet with soap and water in my experience.  The little cutting blades are supposed to be dipped in a sterile solution in addition. John

Response:

If you have Crohn’s Disease, HIV, HPV or HCV and you have undergone a sigmoidoscopy*  in the last several years it is very important that you contact us as soon as possible. Thanks,  *A sigmoidoscopy is an examination of the lower intestine. It is performed with an instrument with a tiny camera on the end for the purpose of viewing your "innards" to see if  you have polyps, etc.  99% of the instruments are non sterile (believe it or not) because the hospitals and docs have refused to pay the extra $30 for a disposable sheath. It eats into their $200 to $500 profits. It is becoming common knowledge that many people have been infected during this procedure – with Crohn’s Disease, HCV, HPV, etc. There have been articles in USA Today, Newsweek and Fortune within the last 30 days concerning this medical "cover-up". I am very familiar with this subject because I am one of the unfortunate ones who has been infected during this exam – at Mayo Clinic. I need you help to stop this stop this. Thanks.

Response:

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