[Question #5758] HIV Risk

73 months ago

Good Morning Doctors,

Last night i went to a restaurant for dinner. While i was having my appetiser, i found some sharp, hard particulate in my mouth. I immediately spat it out and analysed it. It was a triangular piece of metal. I reported this immediately to the restaurant manager. They apologised and replaced the dish. I came back home and checked my mouth thoroughly for any pricks or cuts that may have been caused by that metal piece. I am now scared, wondering what if that metal might have cut or injured that cook or anybody else who might have handled it and then injured me in the mouth. This is a really freak situation and i do not know if it put me at risk for acquiring infections like HIV, Hepatitis, etc.

I would really like your opinion on whether there are any chances of infection? if so, what should i do next?

Thanks for your reply in advance.

73 months ago

*The appetiser was fried onion fritters and the metal piece was inside the fritter dough.

Edward W. Hook M.D.

73 months ago

Welcome to the forum. I'll be glad to address your question. Your question relates to whether or not during preparation the piece of metal you found in your food cut someone in the kitchen who may have been infected with HIV, Hepatitis, or other blood borne infection which then could have been transmitted to you in your food. Even in the unlikely event that someone in the kitchen was infected with one of these agents, ingestion of it would not lead to infection. The fact that the inside of your mouth was pierced by the metal does not change this. HIV and hepatitis each become noninfectious quickly following exposure to the environment. If contamination occurred before your appetizer was cooked the cooking would have also killed the virus Finally, ingestion of these viruses does not lead to infection as they are inactivated within the oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract.

While I completely understand that having your food contaminated with this material was unsettling, it does not represent a risk for HIV, hepatitis, or other blood borne infection's. No testing is scientifically indicated. I hope that this information is helpful to you. Pick care. EWH

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