[Question #7922] Germaphobia
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50 months ago
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I am back again (#7842 and others). I am sorry that to be asking questions from new username, I lost access to my original account. If it is possible for you could you please delete/block it. Sir again I apologize for wasting your time with germaphobia and anxiety driven questions. I have spent hours searching answers here for this particular questions, and it seems that I already know that your answer would be non-existent risk and even not an exposure. I do not know why, but regularly I encounter blood (assumption) on sidewalks and on some inanimate objects. I don't think that anybody thinks about or analyzes such things. Probably germaphobia and OCD is a matter.
So, my question is:
At my workplace I was unboxing and assembling a device. I have spotted few blood stains (probably was soaked by cardboard) on a cardboard box, box was duct taped, the stains that I noticed were under tape, but of course this do not exclude that stains were not present at other locations. However I did barely inspect all locations but could not see any. Likely, this box have been in delivery van for at least two hours if not as more as half a day or more.
Also, same day right before unboxing it I have stepped on a brown blood splash on a sidewalk. So, when I was assembling a device I stepped on carpet where I have dropped wrench many times, and I have picked it up, and most concerning part is I got a little scratch on my finger with a wrench but it never bleed and it was unnoticeable, also I got accidentally scratch my finger with my fingernail it also did not bleed at the moment just was shiny little scratch, but it became red next day (not sure if this happened at this time or it was already there before, I just saw it when got scratch by wrench).
So, my concerns are: 1. Is it something realistic that blood from sidewalk come to shoes then walked 200 yards then come to carpet then to wrench/fingernail? 2. And same thing with a blood stain on cardboard? Non-existent risk?
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50 months ago
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Also, forgot to add one more detail, the scissors that I was using for unboxing, had one quarter inch blood stain on its blade, it seemed to be dry. I did not notice any other, but there possibly was some on its plastic handle too. My concerns regarding it, are that my scratch may have touched possible blood on scissor handle or even rubbed when using?
Do you think testing, PEP, or any further evaluation is needed?
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
50 months ago
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You acknowledge that you continue to worry about events that have no realistic risk for acquisition of HIV or other blood borne infections. You also acknowledge the possibility that this represents pathological anxiety or OCD. I will provide a few brief comments but I must also warn you that further questions of this sort, regarding contact with what may be blood (you do not know that this is the case) on street surfaces, packing materials, snow( in an earlier thread) may be closed without a response and without return of your posting fee.
Touching what may a blood stain on a box is a no risk event. So s stepping in what may be blood on the sidewalk. Having a scratch or cut on your finger in no way changes this. Nothing you describe suggests any reason for concern. There is no need for testing and absolutely no reason to even consider PEP.
I do suggest you seek counseling regarding your unrealistic concerns. They cannot be doing you any good. EWH
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50 months ago
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Dear Dr. Hook thanks for your reply. I would like to ask few more questions just for educational purposes.
Are followings are absolutely no risk?
1. Accidentally scratching someone (no visible blood or injury) and itch oneself.
2. Dining outside, while frequently biting cheeks and wounding them and with bleeding gums.
3. Working in assembly line and very frequently getting cuts and small injuries from sharp edges of metallic devices.
4. If no visible blood - no worry.
No sex outside of marriage, never share needles and no contact with large amounts of blood --- never worry about STI and blood borne infections?
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
50 months ago
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Sigh. This is repetitive. Each of the situations you describe in 1-4 are no risk events. EWH ---
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50 months ago
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Thanks a lot! Your answers are really helpful. I have no more questions.
As this is third and last question. Please allow me to ask few more interesting question just out of curiosity.
1. Is going for a business trips and staying in hotels, etc. to a countries like South Africa safe from medical standpoint I mean of course no sex - no syringes, but regular human to human interactions like hugs, handshakes, etc.? And if there is need to visit emergency unit in hospitals over there like after dog bite and probably getting injections?
2. Why incarcerated people are at high risk?
3. Are people living in most unhygienic places like slums in least developed countries are at risk?
4. Why STI is common in Africa, because of unsafe sex or rapes?
Thanks again and take care!
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50 months ago
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Just to reconfirm, the question about the scissors in initial question - no risk?
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
50 months ago
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Final responses. Once again, I remind you that future anxiety driven, repetitive questions may be closed and deleted without a response.
1. If you are bitten by a dog in South Africa your risk for rabies (100% fatal and untreatable) is far higher than your risk for HIV. HIV is NOT spread by casual contact including handshakes, hugs, etc. HIV is not spread by injections unless the needles are shared. Needles are not share by medical professionals.
2. Many incarcerated persons are drug users who share needles or who may have unsafe sex.
3. This is a problem related to access to care and limited resources. Globally persons with limited access to health care and living in poverty are most at risk for problems such as HIV. Rapes are not a larger problem in developing nations than elsewhere.
4. See number 3. Same answer. Most of these infections are transmitted by persons who are unaware that they are infected or do not have resources to seek testing and treatment.
End of thread. EWH
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
50 months ago
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No risk from scissors in the situation you describe. EWH---