[Question #954] contaminated surface

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98 months ago
Sir,
l1)et say that a.sharp object is visibly contaminated with blood and I accidentally got pierced by the sharp object. What is my overall risk??
2) I was standing below ladder and a worker was on the ladder doing some work. Suddenly a drop of liquid fell in my eyes. If it is blood .what are my chances of  getting infected with hiv  ??hw much amount of blood is.needed to.get infected .did it ever happened??

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Edward W. Hook M.D.
98 months ago

We receive many questions of this sort.  I would suggest that after you read this reply you look at some of the replies we have made to other clients.  while the situations vary slightly from one to another, the responses are always the same.  HIV infection will not be acquired through environmental contact- this includes touching surfaces or objects that have been contaminated with HIV infected blood or secretions or if a drop of blood, saliva or other body fluid from a person with HIV lands on your skin or face and eyes.  This is true even if you have cuts or scrapes that the material lands on.  the amount of blood is irrelevant.  There are no well documented reports of HIV acquisition that I have heard of which occurred in this way- none, not ever. 

I hope this answer is helpful to you.  HIV is a fragile virus that becomes non-infectious when it is exposed to air and the environment.  EWH

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98 months ago
Sir, u forgot answer my 1st question..that.
1) if I.got injured by visibly blood contaminated sharp object , can I get hiv??
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
98 months ago
It is difficult to answer theoretical questions because there are many variables involved in such situations.  Solid, contaminated objects tend to be low risk because they do not contain blood in the same way that hollow needles do.  Further, as I noted above the HIV virus is fragile and becomes non-infectious when exposed to air.  Thus, while I suppose this is theoretically possible the risk is very, very low.  It really is not something to worry about  EWH
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98 months ago
sir , when i am going out of the office, door just hit my  eyes and mouth, so if there is some blood in the door, it would have made contact with my eyes and face . what is possible hiv risk ?
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
98 months ago
There has never been a case of HIV transmitted in this way.  This possibility should not worry you.  For all practical purposes, HI v transmission occurs only as a result of direct unprotected sexual contact with in infected person or injection of infected material deep into tissue.  Transmission in the ways you ask about is not a realistic concern.  

This is my third reply to these questions,  this thread will be closed later today.  EWH


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