Deerfoot Meadows Superstore: Needle-Contaminated Toilet Paper Sends Shopper to ER

CALGARY, AB — A routine grocery trip turned into a medical emergency Tuesday when a shopper at the Deerfoot Meadows Superstore used toilet paper contaminated with fresh needle pokes, prompting an ER visit and a month-long course of prophylactic drugs for potential HIV and Hepatitis exposure.

The incident, detailed in a recent Reddit post, occurred February 17, 2026, when the individual used a toilet paper roll resting on top of a broken dispenser. After overhearing two Superstore staff members discussing how they now 'bring their own toilet paper' because people 'shooting up' were 'cleaning their freshly used needles by stabbing the sides of toilet paper rolls,' the shopper inspected the roll.

They found 5-7 fresh, bright red needle pokes. One puncture was at the very top of the roll—exactly where they had just torn off paper. The individual had active hemorrhoids, providing a direct route for potential bloodborne pathogen exposure.

The Medical Response

After calling Alberta Health Services' 811 Health Link, the shopper was directed to an emergency room. Physicians initiated a full 28-day course of Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) for potential HIV, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C exposure, plus a tetanus booster.

Doctors estimated transmission risk at 0.02%—statistically low, but non-negligible given the open wound and fresh blood. The PEP protocol follows AHS guidelines for non-occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens.

'The pills are pretty hard on my stomach,' the individual wrote. 'I feel so incredibly gross and scared... but [doctors] all said it was way better to be safe than sorry.'

Why This Matters

Hepatitis C can survive on surfaces for up to three weeks. Hepatitis B survives up to seven days. While HIV is fragile and typically dies within minutes in open air, the presence of fresh blood and mucosal contact justified the aggressive prophylactic treatment.

The staff conversation suggests Superstore employees were already aware of needle tampering in the washroom—a fact that raises questions about facility safety protocols and management response.

The Locked Dispenser Problem

Commercial washrooms use enclosed, locked toilet paper dispensers precisely to prevent tampering and environmental contamination. When a roll sits exposed—as it did in this case due to a broken dispenser—it loses its primary physical barrier.

People using public washrooms to inject drugs sometimes use toilet paper to 'wick' excess blood off needles before recapping or a second attempt at finding a vein. The porous material absorbs blood into multiple layers, not just the surface.

Public Health Recommendations

If you're using a public restroom, AHS and infectious disease specialists recommend:

• Inspect the dispenser: If the roll is sitting out in the open or the dispenser is broken, treat the paper as unprotected.
• The 'Roll Check': Look for small, reddish-brown dots on the side of the roll.
• Carry personal kits: Pocket-sized tissue packs or flushable wipes are the safest alternative in high-traffic urban areas.

If You're Exposed

If you suspect exposure to bloodborne pathogens:

• Wash immediately with soap and water. Do not scrub so hard you break skin further.
• Seek care within 72 hours. PEP for HIV is most effective when started within hours and generally not offered after the 72-hour window.

The shopper's post, shared publicly on Reddit, ends with a stark warning: 'Please check the tp if it's out of the dispenser. Bring wet wipes or a pack of tissues in your bags in case of emergencies.'

Incidents like these remind us that public health is collective. When our unhoused neighbors lack the resources to manage substance use safely, the risks are shared by everyone who uses communal spaces. Rather than seeing this as a personal threat, it can be viewed as a call for more compassionate urban design—such as installing stainless steel, tamper-proof dispensers and providing accessible needle-drop boxes in all public restrooms.

Source: Reddit user post, verified through AHS PEP protocols and clinical guidelines.