[Question #8717] HIV transmission through Mask?

40 months ago

So this is probably ridiculous but I’m going to ask it anyways. I’m a 32 year old male, healthy. I went to be screened for the major STDs the cheapest way possible. I didn’t realize this place was basically an HIV clinic until I got there.

I don’t carry a mask on me and was required to wear one. So they handed me a mask out of a box (multiple masks in the box, they probably use the same box for multiple patients) at the front desk. That’s when my anxiety started…….what if there were people with HIV that came in before me that also grabbed a mask from that same box. They could’ve reached in there and touched the mask that I wore for 30 minutes or so. My lips are dry and may have cuts on them.

I know it’s no way to live life thinking this way, but in this case there’s probably people that have HIV coming in and out regularly. Is there anyway HIV could be transmitted through a basic covid mask?

Thank you.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

40 months ago

Welcome back to the forum. Thank you for your continued confidence in our services.

Virtually all clinics and doctors' offices these days require masking, but the purpose is exclusively to prevent transmission of COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses. That an HIV clinic does so has nothing to do with HIV per se. With or without masking, there is absolutely no risk of transmission of HIV or other STIs. No way, no worries.

I hope that's clear -- let me know if not. (By the way, having glanced at your most recent previous thread: the opportunity for follow-up comments is for clarification of the initial question. It's not intended for additional questions on other STI/HIV topics. Thanks for your understanding.)

Best regards-- HHH, MD

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40 months ago

Sorry, about the follow-up questions in the past. Yes, that’s clear. But even if someone with HIV put their hand in that box and had blood on their hand, could the mask that I wore have been contaminated with it and somehow transfer through a cut on my lip? Also, I may have open sores in my mouth.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

40 months ago

First, the notion that someone would have wet blood on their hands in the clinic is exceedingly unlikely. After >45 years experience in busy clinics (mostly STD/HIV clinics), I'm unaware anything like that ever happened and can't conceive of how it might. Second, if that happened, it would be zero risk anyway. Nobody in the world ever caught HIV by touching blood in the environment -- regardless of "sores in the mouth".

This truly is nothing to be worried about. Just let it go.

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