I was hoping you could answer the following question:

Is there any HIV risk if someone accidentally pokes themselves on something like a pin or a staple (sharp object but not needle) which draws blood and then a minute or two (but no more than maybe two minutes) later the same pin or staple (sharp object but not needle) pokes a second person and draws blood or does the HIV virus die with contact with air?

Am a little concerned about a situation but not sure if I am being unreasonable.

Thank you.

First and importantly, you do not mention whether or not the person who was stuck first has untreated HIV or not- HIV infection is not all that uncommon, even among men who have sex with other men and most people known to have HIV in the U.S. are on treatment and thus no longer infectious (effective treatment for HIV makes people non-infectious),

Second, pricks due to solid sharps such as staples are less likely to lead to infection than sticks with needles. This is because needles tend to be hollow and therefore can carry blood from person to person while solid sharps do not have a place for the blood to be transferred from.

Third, as you mention, exposure to the environment typically rapidly renders HIV non-infectious.  I am not aware of any instances when someone who was poked with the same sharp following an initial stick has acquired HIV.

For all of these reason, I probably not worry about the incident you are referring to. EWH

Thank you for the response.

Sorry if my question was vague or missing detail.

I do not know the other person's status.

The time interval between these events was only a minute or two.  Do you think this is long enough to make it a non-risk?

Also, do you think PEP would be warranted in a situation like this?

Thank you for your help

No the time interval does not make a difference, this is still VERY, VERY low risk.

If you asked me to prescribe PEP in this situation, I would decline,. The risk is vanishingly low

Hope this helps.  EWH

This is my last follow up.  I guess I am asking for reassurance purposes, if this were you would you be concerned about this situation?

Thanks so much.