[Question #10153] HIV

25 months ago

Hi,

I went to a public bathroom located in a research institute and tried to use the tap to rinse my mouth. Accidentally, my lips touched the tap. I don't remember if there was any blood or other fluids on the tap, and I have cracked lips, which may have had blood on them. The tap may have also come into contact with the inner part of my mouth. I have mouth sores and there may be blood in my mouth. The contacts were not slight, but with force, although I didn't feel any obvious pain.

1. Assuming that there is fresh blood on the tap that I didn't notice, am I at risk of HIV infection?

2. In general, do I need to worry about accidental blood contact with my mouth or any other part of my body during daily activities? What are the rules I need to follow?

3. The coffee cups provided by the institute are not very clean because I saw tea stains and leftover coffee. I am not sure how to judge my risks. I used the cups. Am I at risk of HIV infection? What if someone with HIV used the same cup just before me?

4. What about other STIs?

My grammar is bad. If anything above is still unclear, please let me know.

25 months ago

I would like to add a few more questions: Is it possible to transmit HIV through paper cuts? For example, if I were to grab paper with infected blood and get some cuts, should I be concerned about contracting HIV? Additionally, what if I have cuts and scrapes on my hands and come into contact with infected blood on paper, pens, tablets, or other objects?

Let me know if you can understand my grammar. Thank you!

Edward W. Hook M.D.

25 months ago

Welcome to our Forum. Thanks for your questions. I'll be glad to comment. My sense is that you are unclear about how HIV and other STIs are transmitted. The infections are harder to get than you may think. HIV is transmitted ONLY by unprotected penetrative sex with an untreated infected person (transmission risk varies depending on the type of sex acts but transmission ALWAYs occurs less than 1% of the time when persons are exposed through sex) and through injection of infected material DEEP into tissue or the blood. It is not transmitted through touching, through contact with inanimate surfaces which may be contaminated with HIV infected blood or secretions, or though ingestion of food or drink containing HIV. The sorts of potential exposures you describe are NO RISK events.

1. Assuming that there is fresh blood on the tap that I didn't notice, am I at risk of HIV infection?

See above- Even in the unlikely event that there was fresh, infected blood on the tap there would be no risk for infection.

2. In general, do I need to worry about accidental blood contact with my mouth or any other part of my body during daily activities? What are the rules I need to follow?

There is no need to be concerned at all about accidental contact with blood by your mouth.

There is no risk for infection from drinking from a cup that a person with HIV or other STIs may have drunk from. This is true no matter how recently they drank, no matter whether you or they have cuts on their lips, or dental or gum problems

4. What about other STIs?

no risk.

Is it possible to transmit HIV through paper cuts? For example, if I were to grab paper with infected blood and get some cuts, should I be concerned about contracting HIV? Additionally, what if I have cuts and scrapes on my hands and come into contact with infected blood on paper, pens, tablets, or other objects?

No, none of these sorts of exposures place you at any risk at all for acquisition of HIV or other STIs.

I hope the information I have provided is helpful. No need for concern, no scientific or medical need for testing. EWH

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