[Question #13764] HIV outside the body

24 days ago

Hello

My questions relate to HIV outside the body. Apologies if these answers can be found on the forum.

My neighbour is HIV positive. We share an entrance door to our hallway where our units are located and he takes parcels in for me when I’m not home.

He recently had a bad bicycle accident and returned with bleeding knees and other scrapes. I am worried that he had touched the handle of the door that we share and my Amazon parcel whilst bleeding.

I have read online that HIV quickly becomes non-infectious when outside the body and is only transmittable via the following:

Shared drug needles
Blood transfusions
Infected mom at birth
Unprotected sex

I am trying to stay away from the internet as there is too much conflicting information and I need medical facts.

Questions:

1. Shortly after seeing my neighbour, I popped a zit on my face and it bled. I do not remember washing my hands after getting home (and I’d touched the shared door handle and my Amazon parcel).

2. I fed my 18-month son using my hands shortly after I got home. I am petrified about any risk to him.

3. Based on science, do I need HIV testing or am I okay?

4. My wife and I are trying for another baby. Can I have unprotected sex with her again?

Thank you

Edward W. Hook M.D.

24 days ago

Welcome to the Forum. Thanks for your questions and for your implied confidence in our service. I'll be glad to comment and can assure you that even if your neighbor got blood on your package or on the doorknob there was no risk to you whatsoever None at all. You've done your "homework well and the summary that you've written is right on target. You are also wise to stay off the internet- there is so very much misinformation there that it causes lots of trouble for our clients. HIV becomes non-infectious virtually immediately following exposure to the environment. I'd add that if your neighbor is on effective therapy as the majority of persons with an HIV diagnosis are, the therapy also makes him non-infectious to others through sex, not that that's your concern. Thus, in response to your specific questions:

1. Even if you had touched a part of the package or the door that had his blood on it, popping a pimple would not put you at risk for infection.

2. You son is not at risk from you having fed him

3. There is no medical or scientific reason for concern or for testing.

4. There is no reason to abstain prom unprotected sex with your wife.

Bottom line- you are not at risk from your neighbor, your family is not at risk either. There is no reason for concern and no tees for testing. Please don't worry. EWH

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24 days ago

Dr Hook - thank you for your prompt analysis.

My neighbour has only just been diagnosed with HIV (he is quite open with me and my wife and we have been there as shoulder support over the past two weeks). I therefore do not know if he has officially started treatment yet.

So as I understand your comments correctly:

Even if my neighbour has not started HIV treatment, any blood or fluids of his on the parcel and/or door handle that I touched would not be hazardous to me?

Even though my zit was bleeding heavily once popped (i.e a small break in the skin) and I wiped away the blood with my fingers right on top of the zit, this was NO RISK for HIV? (even if my fingers had touched my neighbours blood / fluids on the door handle or parcel a few minutes earlier)

I am worrying for nothing regarding HIV and I can absolutely move on with my life without any doubts?

I must admit that I have kept this series of events quiet from my wife as I did not want to stress her out also!

I will be sure to recommend this forum to others if they ever need STI guidance. Thank you for your expertise and for providing such straightforward science based answers.

Edward W. Hook M.D.

24 days ago

Thank you for the additional information. This does not change my assessment or advice. I encourage you to move forward without concern. I'm pleased I could help. EWH---

23 days ago

Thank you again, Dr Hook. I appreciate that this will be my last post before the thread is closed.

For my peace of mind going forward, I will never be at risk of HIV for the rest of my life until:

(1) I have unprotected sex with an infected partner; and

(2) I share drug needles ?

(I understand that HIV infection from blood transfusions is virtually non-existent now as the blood is ‘screened’)

And lastly, am I correct that you agree with the 3 follow up Questions that I posted in my first reply? (summarising your advice as I understand it)

God Bless and thanks again.

Edward W. Hook M.D.

23 days ago

This is repetitive. I have already agreed with your 3 follow-up statements above and agree that the only way that you can acquire HIV is through unprotected penetrative sex with and infected partner or injection of infected material deep into tissue. HIV is far more difficult to transmit than you seem to think. Please don't worry.

This thread is now complete. EWH

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