[Question #12378] Blood contact
8 months ago
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Hi doctor, hope all is well.
Friday night I was exposed to a stab wound victim that was stabbed four times at a party. Immediately drove him to the hospital as quick as possible but during the way there I tied up his wounds not thinking about the exposure. There was significant amount of blood my right and left arm sleeves were drenched. After washing my hands I realized there was a paper cut my finger and minor scratches from the incident. Am I at risk of anything? Should I go to the hospital
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
8 months ago
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Welcome back to the forum. Thank you for your ongoing confidence in our services.
You could be at very small risk of one of the main blood-borne viral infections, i.e. HIV and the hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV, HCV). Assuming you have been vaccinated against hepatitis B (like most people), that's not a worry. And the frequency of any of these infections is extremely low from exposure to blood in the environment or in contact of the kinds you had. But nobody can say the risk is zero -- not because of the paper cut or minor scratches, but simply because of the amount of blood exposure, which "drenched sleeves" suggests was substantial. The normal approach to this situation is to speak with the injured person and ideally the doctors treating him: he should be tested for HIV, HBV and HCV. If negative, you'll know you were not at risk. If positive for HIV, consideration might be given to post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), i.e. treating you to prevent HIV. If testing the stab wound victim or speaking with his doctor isn't feasible, you could consider seeking care for professional advice about testing and PEP, especially if you have reason to believe the injured person is at high risk (sex with other men, injection drug use, past incarceration, etc).
To be clear, your risk for any of these infections is extremely low, even if the injured person is infected. (Some other anxious forum users might react with alarm to this advice, because 99% of our questions about blood exposure state zero risk or close to it. But almost all those have involved far less blood contact that you apparently had, or to blood or body secretions on surfaces, utensils, or elsewhere in the environment. For such persons seeing this reply, it doesn't change the advice we gave to your questions!)
I hope these comments are helpful. Let me know if anything isn't clear.
HHH, MD
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8 months ago
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Would the amount of blood I came in contact with seep through the skin? If I could have a paper cut and dip my hand in a gallon of blood with no concern what would make the difference? The amount of time exposed or? The paper cut?
Would you consider prep in the case this happened to you?
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
8 months ago
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The mechanism of infection after exposure to large amounts of blood isn't known. My guess is that transfer to eyes or mouth on fingers might be a possibility, remembering that all of us touch our fingers to our face innumerable times a day, often subconsciously and without remembering. However it might occur, it's too rare to have had any research on the topic. The risk is extremely low.
If I were in your situation, I would attempt to learn the HIV status of the injured person. If that didn't work out, I would try to judge the chance they were infected (injection drug use, MSM, etc). If seemingly at little or no risk, I would not take PEP. If high risk, I might do it.
---I strongly advise you not make the decision yourself or on the basis of this discussion. See an HIV experienced provider in person, ideally one who understands the local epidemiology of HIV, like your local public health department.
8 months ago
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Hi doctor - I was able to get same day results today from the guy that was stabbed. His testing includes - Hiv 4th gen non reactive, hep b (3 different tests) non reactive, and hep c ab non reactive. Am I 100% in the clear?
8 months ago
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Also, my own testing includes hep b surface ab, hep b core ab, HBdAG. All non reactive. Does this mean I need a booster of some sort and I’m not immune?
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
8 months ago
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Excellent -- I'm so glad the injured guy agreed to testing. His negative results make it impossible you could have been infected so you were not at risk.
As you suggest yourself, your negative negative surface antibody test (HBsAb) indicates either that you were not vaccinated against hep B; or that your immunity has waned. Most such persons still are resistant to new infection, but a booster dose makes sense to play it safe. Discuss it with your doctor.
That completes the two follow-up exchanges included with each question and so concludes this thread. I hope the discussion has been helpful. Best wishes and stay safe.
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