[Question #10397] HIV from pin prick?
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23 months ago
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Hello doctors! As you can see by my post history Im pretty paranoid about HIV. Today I had a situation that Im curious about and if it warrants testing. I was on the train and someone came out of the bathroom, walked by me and dropped something right infront of me. When he went down to pick it up I felt almost like a pin prick on my arm. I didn't see any blood on my arm and I squeezed my arm and didn't see blood either (my thoughts are no puncture wound). But then my mind got the best of me, what if he was HIV+ and put some blood on a pin or something and poked my arm? Am I at risk? Or should I not even think about this. Before you ask why someone would do this, there are some mean and crazy people out there. Im just trying to cover my bases here. Thanks for all you do!
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
23 months ago
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Welcome back to the forum. In preparing to answer your questions today I reviewed your three previous questions posted over the past three months as well as scanned additional questions you have asked.
I agree with your statement that you are “pretty paranoid” about HIV. HIV is far more difficult to transmit/ancquire than you think. As you have heard before, HIV would not be transmitted through contaminated food or transfer of genital secretions on your finger to your mouth. To expand on this generalization, it is safe to say that HIV is only transmitted through direct, unprotected sexual contact with an untreated, HIV, infected person (persons on effective HIV treatment cannot transmit the virus) or, other than sexual contact, needle sticks. The only mechanism by which HIV is transmitted is through needle sticks with a hollow point needle which has been previously used to inject a person who has untreated HIV infection. Even with needle stick exposures less than 1% of direct puncture wounds from used needles which have previously been used on HIV infected persons lead to infection.
The scenario you describe is a bit paranoid and absolutely unlikely. Without a direct, visible puncture wound which would draw blood, you can be sure that you did not experience a meaningful needle-stick. In fact, to be honest, I suspect you did not experience a needle stick at all.
I urge you not to worry about the event you describe . I see no reason for concern and no reason for testing. I hope this perspective and this information is helpful to you. EWH.
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23 months ago
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Thank you for the quick response! Im glad I have nothing to worry about. My entire life I never worried about this stuff, then years ago I had a scare and some weight loss followed by it...but now negative tests. But now its always the first thing I think of if I get a cut, or situation like today.
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23 months ago
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Ill ask one more question then ill be done and we can close chat. I wanted to first say, thanks again for this great service. Last question on the pin prick, in my situation can even a tiny amount of blood actually infect? Or does it normally take a decent amount of blood?
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
23 months ago
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Solid needles do not transfer blood because the blood does not stick to the outside of the needle. With hollow-point needles, a small amount of blood is retained within the inside of the needle and therefore could transfer infectious material.
I theory a single virus could transmit infection. The more virus present, the more likely it is that infection could be transmitted. Since in newly infected persons there can be millions of viruses in a single drop of blood so even a tiny amount of blood could, theoretically transmit infection but the lower the amount of virus in the blood (for instance, if a person is on effective treatment for HIV, they have little or no circulating virus in their blood, on the other hand, persons with recently acquired infections can have huge amounts of circulating virus).
On average, fewer than 1% of persons stuck with hollow point needles which have been used on persons with untreated HIV wind up infected. EWH
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23 months ago
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Ok and just to confirm, no reason to worry or even test in my situation? Just to confirm I did not see any blood on my arm, so Im assuming my was not broken...Im not even sure the guy had anything...could have been a pinch or his fingers etc
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
23 months ago
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As you know, this will be my final response. This question is a bit repetitive. I have already told you there’s nothing to worry about. That answer will not change. Please don’t worry. EWH.---
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23 months ago
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Thank you so much doctor!