Diseases Multiple Sclerosis STDs

Question by Angel R: Is there a injection doctors or nurses can take if they come in contact with a patients blood to stop diseases?
Is there a injection doctors or nurses can take if they come in contact with a patients blood to stop diseases like on the tv shows?

Best answer:

Answer by BJC
Depends on the particular infection they are worried about.
There is not one particular type of treatment that can help to prevent infection of all pathogens. Some of the treatments are pills, some are the actual vaccines, some are immunoglobulins that are introduced through an IV (immunoglobulins (Ig) are antibodies produced when someone fights an infection…..having antibodies introduced early can help to prevent a systemic infection from occurring

A few specific examples:

In the case of HIV: a person can be put on the anti-HIV medicines immediately (within 72 hours of exposure) and take them for 28 days. This will help to prevent infection from occurring. Some studies have shown up to an 80% reduction. This post-exposure prophylaxis should only be used when there is a significant and higher risk exposure. The medicines can be toxic and dangerous and should be used judiciously.

In the case of Hep A: the Hep A vaccine is sometimes used in a post-exposure scenario up to 1 week after being exposed.

In the case of Hep B: Every child born to a HepB+ woman is (or should be) given a dose of the HBV vaccine and the administration of Hep B Ig. In the case of an exposed worker there are a variety of treatments depending on several factors including any prior vaccine exposure.

In the case of Ebola: there is a vaccine that has shown promise but it must be administered within 1-4 days of exposure. And the use of convalescent plasma (blood plasma from a person who successfully fought off their infection and who are getting better) has also shown promise.

Bottom line: most of these “post-exposure prophylaxis” treatments are highly specific to the disease. Some work better than others. For some infections, there are no known interventions that can help after someone has been exposed.

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