[Question #7581] HIV Risk Assessment & IS Testing Need
55 months ago
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Please evaluate my HIV risks.
US MD Dermatologist injected antibiotic in my acnes he was
not wearing gloves used same gauze to wipe speck of blood from injection site
at all acnes. Needle and Syringe were new.
Dentist used ultrasonic scaler to clean my teeth, gums bled
a lot, concerned if he changed the tip of the scaler between patients. I was 1st
patient he saw that day.
Bite my cheek and lips while eating, got some bleeding
touched the wound with my bare fingers. Moments before had touched banana and
saw there was something red wet spot on it. I had bought these bananas from BJ’s
4 days back.
Skin is prone to cuts and pokes. Risk from small cuts and
pokes with sharp inanimate objects? While shopping I got cut by plastic cover
on one of the item with little bleeding. Also what is risk of touching wet blood
no cuts on my hand.
At annual physical exam, nurse did my blood sugar test, she
used new lancet but again was not wearing gloves, she squeezed around my poke
site with her fingers to get drop of blood out for testing. Is this a HIV risk
to me?
While working on my snow blower which was in shop for repair
24 hrs back, I got cut on my finger from one of the blades with bleeding.
Blood drawn for labwork at Quest Diagnostics, I immediately
removed the Band-Aid and put my fingers in mouth to get some saliva to wipe the
puncture site. Concerned what all I touched
with my fingers before touching puncture site.
DO I NEED ANY HIV TESTINGS? AM I AT RISK FROM ANY EXPOSURES
ABOVE
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
55 months ago
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55 months ago
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55 months ago
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Thanks for your quick response. I have a few more questions.
1. Regarding the first event even though it was just a handjob, I did not have a condom on. Would that still warrant as a no risk situation for all stds ?
2. I agree with you that sex can make your penis look worn out for a while maybe a day, but I had open cuts on my glans and shaft which could of possibly been bleeding, does that change anything, if per say saliva would of gotten up there.
3. HIV isnt my only concern , do you believe I am clear from all STD's ? I know Dr. Hansfield said protected oral carries little risk, but he didnt specifically say zero risk nor did he deny it was zero risk. Would both of yall agree on the response you gave me ? I just dont want to put my wife at risk from yhis situation, but dont want yo go with the dreadful wait of getting tested if you believe I dont have to and can just carry on.
Thanks,
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
55 months ago
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55 months ago
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
55 months ago
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55 months ago
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
55 months ago
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Your final questions are good ones:
1. This is a complex issue and to be honest, in my opinion, the contradictory advice I'm about to mention serves to occasionally fuel unnecessary anxiety. Some experts will tell you theoretically that touching contaminated fluid, blood in particular, may pose a very slight risk for infection. The fact however is that the same experts will also assure you that mutual masturbation with an infected partner, despite the fact that this typically means that partners get each others' potentially infectious secretions on one another is a no risk event. Thus, while it makes good sense to avoid touching blood or other potentially infectious materials in day to day life, I would not worry about the possibility that a surface might have been contaminated or that material you might touch might be a source of infection. For all practical purposes, HIV is NOT spread through contract with inanimate objects. Sorry for the complexity of this answer, trying to be thorough. I would not worry at all about the situation you describe.
2. Correct, within the context of my answer above.
I'll keep this thread open for a little bit just in case any part of this reply is unclear. EWH
55 months ago
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
55 months ago
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You are correct. Looking for red spots on letters on items at the store is totally unnecessary and is no risk.
Correct as well, absolutely no risk from touching your slightly bleeding lip lesion. Touching the bananas did not pose a risk.
This will complete this thread. I hope my comments have been helpful. EWH
55 months ago
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