[Question #13430] HIV environment

1 months ago

Good Evening Doctors

I hope that you can help me. From the outset, I will be open with you and admit that I do have OCD.

I was at a party earlier this week and everyone was drinking the same drink (and using straws). I was slightly intoxicated and when I returned from the bathroom I could not tell which drink was mine, and just picked up a random cup and began drinking from the straw.

It transpires that someone at this party is HIV positive.

After I left the party, I was walking home and a discarded cigarette was thrown from a balcony above. It caught my shirt and I rubbed the ash mark using saliva and my finger, oblivious to the prospect of germs. When I got home 10 mins later, I completely forgot to wash my hands and I masterbated (including touching the tip of my penis).

Am I at risk of HIV? Is testing advised?

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

1 months ago

Welcome to the forum. Thank you for your confidence in our services.

Stopping to comment after seeing on the title you chose for your question, before reading the question itself: HIV has never been known to be acquired by environmental exposure, even there is likely contamination with infected blood or body fluids. Unless there is a surprise when I read on, probably I will advise you there is no reason for concern.

Now I've read the rest. Guess what? There was no risk from either of the events you describe. HIV is rarely if ever transmitted by saliva; in fact, saliva is toxic to HIV and kills the virus. It is almost never transmitted by kissing (even prolonged, open mouth kissing) or by oral to penis (i.e. to the receiver of a BJ). And certainly the amount of saliva exposure from either a shared drinking glass or indirectly by contact with a cigaret smoked by an HIV infected person could not transmit HIV -- or any other STI.

So no worries and you definitely should not be tested on account of these experiences.

I hope this information is helpful. Let me know if anything isn't clear.

HHH, MD

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1 months ago

Dr Handsfield - thank you for your prompt analysis.

1. I have now browsed historic posts on this forum (some going back years) and I note that both yourself and Dr Hook advise that the only 2 ways you will ever risk catching HIV is through unprotected intercourse and shared needles - nothing else. Is that still the case today?

2. Am I correct that touching door handles and eating / fingers in mouth without washing hands beforehand is also no risk for HIV transmission?

3. A few weeks ago I had a bad urine infection and was constantly using public bathrooms when out and about given my urge to urinate. In doing so, I would often sit down to urinate and end up wiping the head of my penis with toilet paper given it would just be drips. Is this also no risk for HIV transmission?

Thank you for your help.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

1 months ago

1. Basically correct for day to day purposes. But of course HIV can also be transmitted by transfusion or transplant with infected blood or organs and to babies during delivery by pregnant women.

2. Correct.

3. Also no risk. (The public toilet seat myth was debunked for STIs well over a hundred years ago.)

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1 months ago

Thank you, Doctor.

So in short: no HIV risk whatsoever in adults unless there is unprotected sexual intercourse, shared needles or a blood transfusion?

And even though I touched the head of my penis without washing my hands, this could not transmit HIV? (and does the same apply for touching surfaces like phone cases, keyboards, plane video screens etc - i.e no risk if you fail to wash your hands after using either?).

I have read that the virus is non-infectious when outside the body and open to the air. Therefore it probably appears that I am worrying for absolutely nothing.

I appreciate that this is my last post. Thank you for taking the time to help me - I will be sure to recommend this service to others.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

1 months ago

"So in short...." Duplicate question and I haven't changed my mind. The statement is correct.

"And even though...." Also correct.

"I have read...." I don't know how quickly HIV becomes non-infectious with drying or air exposure, but it's pretty quick. However, that isn't necessarily the reason that environmental exposure has never been known to result in HIV transmission. That fact probably has to do more with the amount of virus that can be transmitted by such contact. It takes LOTS of virus that must have contact with certain kinds of cells that are generally deep inside the body.

As you surmised, this indeed concludes this thread. I hope the discussion has been helpful.

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