Question: Hi,
I had a Pap test recently and I’m feeling slightly concerned. The doctor didn’t wash his hands, he put the gloves he was going to use on the table, as well as the other items for the exam on the table. There were files around also near the objects he was going to use. The objects were not placed on a tray or anything like this. I’m concerned about germs or staph infection. After the exam he also used his hand to check inside and I’m concerned about this especially as he touched the items that were on his desk.
I’m mostly concerned about staph infections, as I live with others and don’t want to give it to anyone. I’m unsure about how to behave in my household now. Should I wash my clothes and dishes separately? Not share utensils?
Please let me know what I should do.

Thank you for your answer. The test was done at a doctors office where he goes in and out of many rooms and patients can sit in the room where I had my exam and may have been in there before I was. He pulled the plastic speculum out of a drawer that was underneath the bed I had my exam on. He placed the speculum, gloves and object he used for the test on a regular surface on his desk. Then he put his gloves on and began to do the test. He also put his hand with his gloves inside me. I’m concerrned because on his desk there were files of other patients that he had seen moments before me. I am very concerned about an infection, staph, Herpes from these surfaces, since he did touch the speculum without washing his hands after dropping off those files and touching door handles etc. Then proceeded to put his gloves on. Some further clarification on what to do would be great. I am very concerned as I do not want to give anything to anyone in my home. Is it possible to have staph or Herpes?

Thank you. After three days of using this solution, can I wash my clothes and dishes with the rest of my households? Do I need to do a test to ensure that I don’t have an infection?