file.newsgroup.med.59148 Maven / Gradle / Ivy
From: [email protected] (Harry Matthews)
Subject: Re: GETTING AIDS FROM ACUPUNCTURE NEEDLES
In article <[email protected]> [email protected] (Ella I Baff) writes:
>
> someone wrote in expressing concern about getting AIDS from acupuncture
> needles.....
>
>Unless your friend is sharing fluids with their acupuncturist who
>themselves has AIDS..it is unlikely (not impossible) they will get AIDS
>from acupuncture needles. Generally, even if accidently inoculated, the normal
>immune response should be enough to effectively handle the minimal contaminant
>involved with acupuncture needle insertion.
>
Isn't this what HIV is about - the "normal immune response" to an exposure?
>Most acupuncturists use disposable needles...use once and throw away.
I had electrical pulse nerve testing done a while back. The needles were taken
from a dirty drawer in an instrument cart and were most certainly NOT
sterile or even clean for that matter. More than likely they were fresh
from the previous patient. I WAS concerned, but I kept my mouth shut. I
probably should have raised hell!
Any comments? No excuses.