[Question #10430] Hiv risk
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23 months ago
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this incident happened 8 weeks back. At the park suddenly I noticed a Orange cap Syringe near by (Discarded by drug users). Fortunately , the needle protective cover was not removed and therefore needle end was completely covered. Some kind of liquid was inside the syringe and thumb rest on the plunger was broken (seems like not fully used).
I was wearing Nike running shoes with a good rubber outsole. I am sure I did not step on the neddle. As there were kids around I slightly swipe the syringe few millimeters away using the edge of my shoe ( Contact was 2-3 second with side of the barel ) and then left the place.At that time I was not worried as I was sure I did not have any kind of puncture as I did not felel any pain and the needle was properly covered with protective cap (so zero contact with sharp end ). Also syringe did not stick in to my shoe as I did not step on it. At home I check the sole of my feet there were no blood marks or puncture marks.
1. What is the risk of I am getting hiv or any other infection from this incident?
2. Can I get infected by the slight contact of my shoe with the barel of the syrynge? what if there were some liquid outside.
3. I am worrying if I got a needle stick without noticing it?can this be possible?
4. Do I need to get tested for HIV or Hep based on this incident?
1. What is the risk of I am getting hiv or any other infection from this incident?
2. Can I get infected by the slight contact of my shoe with the barel of the syrynge? what if there were some liquid outside.
3. I am worrying if I got a needle stick without noticing it?can this be possible?
4. Do I need to get tested for HIV or Hep based on this incident?
5 If I do a hiv 4th gen blood test when is it conclusive?
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
23 months ago
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This is your fourth question in as many months describing events that you know (intellectually) are risk free in regard to HIV and hepatitis. See your other threads, in which the lack of risk of such events is repeatedly described, along with statements about the only kinds of exposure that transmit the virus (sex, direct shared needles for injection, etc). Nobody in the world has ever acquired HIV by exposure to infected syringes or any other object in the environment. Obviously you were not actually exposed to the syringe you found (photo deleted) and even if somehow you were, there would be no risk of HIV even the user was infected -- which s/he probably was not. We have also advised that this is not a proper site for support of your self-acknowledged OCD. My answers now are very succinct and there will be no opportunity for follow-up discussion.
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1. No risk.
2. No, this is not possible.
3. I cannot imagine how you could be stuck by a needle and not know it. And you were wearing shoes, for goodness' sake!
4. You should not be tested for HIV or any other blood borne infection.
5. If and when you have a legitimate HIV exposure, the AgAb (4th generation) HIV blood tests are nearly conclusive (98-99%) 4 weeks and 100% conclusive 6 weeks after exposure.
If you are not in professional care for your OCD, you should seek it now. If in care, you might discuss these events with your counselor.
Please note the forum does not permit repeated anxiety driven questions on the same topic or exposure. This will have to be your last one; future new questions about catching HIV or other infections in the environment (like discarded syringes, trash receptacles, etc, etc) will receive no reply and the posting fee will not be refunded. This policy is based on compassion, not criticism, and is intended to reduce the temptation to keep paying for questions with obvious answers. In addition, experience shows that continued answers tend to prolong users' anxieties rather than reducing them. Finally, such questions have little educational value for other users, one of the forum's main purposes.
Thank you for your understanding. Good luck to you.
HHH, MD
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