[Question #5274] HIV from stepping on Glass shard at car park

76 months ago

Dear Doctor,

Thanks for taking my question. I was walking in a car park at a Sydney beach without shoes . I stepped on a glass shard. While I realized the pinch, I kept walking a few further steps and the glass shard went deep inside as I took more steps.

I then took it out. It was sharp and the length was about 0.6 mm to 0.7 mm. I think I saw some blood on it and it might be mine. I threw it away without checking the shard further.

While the bleeding was not profuse, it did bleed for about 4-6 minutes before it stopped.

I have the following questions.

1. Is there any risk of HIV whatsoever from this? I am concerned if someone had stepped on the glass shard before me and they had some bleeding and left it on the shard. This is a car park at a beach and many folks do walk barefoot. I am also concerned that it went deep into my feet and I had some bleeding.

2. Do I need to get tested for this?

3. Do I need to stop having intercourse with my wife? Even if there is any slight risk, please let me know.

Thanks much again

Edward W. Hook M.D.

76 months ago

Welcome to our Forum. I'll be glad to comment. As I'm sure you know, these sorts of injuries are, unfortunately, very common, yet to my knowledge there has never been a case of HIV acquired in this way. You are not going to be the first. There are many, many reasons for this including that there was unlikely to be any blood from anyone other than you on the glass, that if there was someone else's blood that person is statistically unlikely to have HIV, and that HIV does not survive upon exposure to air. I see no reason for concern, no reason for testing. Thus in answer to your three questions:

No, there is no reason for concern.

2. Do I need to get tested for this?

No, there is no medical or scientific reason for testing.

3. Do I need to stop having intercourse with my wife? Even if there is any slight risk, please let me know.

No, there is no risk for infection from this sort of exposure.

I hope that these comments are helpful. EWH

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76 months ago

Sir. Thanks for the prompt response. I am concerned as to what will happen if some blood from someone who is HIV positive was left on that glass shard if they were pricked just before me. Are you suggesting that it is no risk even if that was the case? Please clarify and if time permits, please provide scientific reason so that I do not repeat my questions. I was worried as the shard went deep into my leg. Thanks much for your time and help in this regard.

Edward W. Hook M.D.

76 months ago

I addressed the "what if", very, very low probability question in my original response. As I said above "HIV does not survive upon exposure to air". this was, in part my reason for indicating that this was a no risk event and there was no need for concern or for testing. My answer will not change. EWH---