[Question #9062] bloody water from public restroom o semi fresh wound
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36 months ago
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Dear doctors, I have a situation that I can't fully solve using CBT methods (I have ocd regarding hiv), I have decided it's probably no risk but please sound the alarms if I'm wrong.
It's very simple, I. was using public restroom sink, the water pressure was really splashy and some water dripped from the sink onto my foots bare skin. I just so happen to have some sort of a dry blister on top of my foot due to dancing. it had a scab but not sure how fresh or not. I didnt really worry at all at the time cause I know public restrooms are not a risk no matter how gross BUT the stain the water had left on my jeans were kind of yellow ish so now I don't know what that means.
It's not impossible for some diluted blood to have ended up on the sink and then drip because of how this faucet was and it being a womens bathroom and all, what I don't know is infectivity of moist blood that has been in water. Last person used the sink like right before me. I'd love a bit of a science anecdote here so I can use it for next situations when I'm solving issues using cbt methods.
Best
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
36 months ago
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Welcome to the forum. Thank you for your questions. I’ll be happy to address your concerns in the hopes that it will help you escape the unwarranted anxiety you are experiencing. The scenario you describe is totally over the top. You don’t know there was blood in the sink, if there were you don’t know that it contained HIV or other blood borne pathogens. And even if those too very unlikely circumstances occurred, exposure to the environment would immediately render the virus non-infectious. Any exposure tof blood to water would render it even less likely to be infectious. This was a no risk event with no need for concern and no need for testing.
I hope my assessment is helpful. I urge you to seek or continue your therapy for your OCD. EWH
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36 months ago
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Thank you doctor! So scientifically speaking just like dried blood is not infectious in environment, possible diluted blood in water is also not infectious after a few mins?
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
36 months ago
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Correct. EWH ---