[Question #11469] Toilet backsplash

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14 months ago
Hi,

I got sick at work and was vomiting when some backsplash hit my lip or maybe some saliva from my mouth dropped down into the bowl and came back up to my lip. Am I at risk for any STDs? Should I be worried about HSV-2? Thank you
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
14 months ago
I'm sorry that you were sick.  The water droplet does not present any risk for the acquisition of a sexually transmitted infection, and certainly not HSV 2

Terri
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14 months ago
Thank you for your response, I truly appreciate it. Would any of the following scenarios present a risk of transmission:

1. Toilet backsplash in one’s eye?
2. Toilet backsplash hitting one’s lip?
3. Using toilet paper that may have had drops of water splashed on it from flushing?
4. Touch a surface and then touching one genitals?
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
14 months ago
No, none of these experiences present any real risk of acquisition of anything.

Terri
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13 months ago
Thank you again, Terri. I was worried because my GYN said that it was theoretically possible to get HSV-2 through casual contact, such as a toilet seat or bench, shared drinks or other forms of fomite transmission. Is this true? 

In the absence of skin-to-skin contact with mucous membranes/genitals or a mucous membrane/genitals with an open sore, is there anything I should be concerned about? 

Does the context of intact skin with mucous a mucous membrane or open sore present an issue?

Thank you again 
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
13 months ago
I guess it depends upon what you describe as casual contact with HSV 2.  Sharing a sex toy is a fomite but hardly casual contact, in my opinion.  It is totally incorrect that one would acquire HSV 2 from a toilet seat or a bench (a bench???) or sharing drinks.  Some people think you can acquire HSV 1 from sharing a cigarette or a drink, and that would also be possible sharing a liptstick, but HSV 2 is genital and none of that applies.  

Terri
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13 months ago
By casual contact, I mean completely platonic and not sexual. For example, is there any way a child sharing a household with someone with HSV-2 (assume it was both oral and genital) get HSV-2 from shared surfaces, seats, towels, utensils, straws? Basically, I want to know if I’m at risk in the absence of skin to skin contact, sexual contact, shared sex toys or kissing? My GYN acted like it was possible to get HSV-2 from the environment just living my life, so that is my question. Is that possible? Thank you 
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
13 months ago
The only thing we recommend here is that you don't share towels with household members.  Otherwise, there is no chance of transmitting this to a child in your household.  Your GYN is confused about transmission of HSV 2 to household members.

Terri
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