[Question #9619] Blood contact

30 months ago

Hello,

Yesterday I had a gross situation which I do not know if it is risky in terms of Hiv or Hep.

I was playing tennis and during the game of the balls ended in an opened trash can available on the court side. My opponent went to the trash can, got the ball and after taking a quick look put it in her pocket to continue the game.

It felt very gross to me and once the match finished I took a look to the trash can and for my disgusting surprise there was nitrile gloves and some gauzes with blood I supposed related to some first aid that took place there in some point of time before we started our game.

So then I started to think that I was in contact to unknown source blood from the gauzes in the trash through the ball and my colleague hand that was in contact with it.

I read that casual contact to blood in the environment is not an issue although I am not sure if this is true in all the situations and even if it applies to my recent experience.

Thank you for your answer.

Regards.

Edward W. Hook M.D.

30 months ago

Welcome to our forum. Thanks for your question and for your confidence in our service. I’ll be glad to comment and hope that I will succeed and reassuring you that the event you described was a no risk event.

Most importantly, let me inform you that IF ( statistically unlikely) the blood that you saw in the trashcan was from a person with untreated HIV or hepatitis, the material would no longer be infectious. Blood-borne viruses quickly lose their infectivity when exposed to the environment. In addition, viruses present in blood or secretions tend to adhere to the fibers of gauze or other material. There are no instances in which persons exposed to contaminated, inanimate objects, such as countertops, toilet seats, or even blood or secretion splatter have become infected with HIV or hepatitis. There is no reason for concern, and no reason for testing related to the event you describe.

I hope the information I provided has been helpful. If any part of my answer is unclear or there are lingering additional questions, please feel free to use your up to two follow-ups for clarification. Please don’t worry. EWH.

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30 months ago

Thank you Dr Hook,

Your answer is quite clear and reassuring.

So for future reference can I conclude that there is never a risk if somehow I got some blood on my skin from an inanimate object or even directly from someone if I do not have any important cut or significant bleeding injury?

Would it be different if some cut or bleeding injury were present?

I also understand time is not relevant here, right? gauzes and gloves with blood should had been in the trashcan at least for 30 minutes that was the time we were playing before the situation happened.

Thanks again.

Edward W. Hook M.D.

30 months ago

You are correct. Time is irrelevant here. You are also correct that if you were to get blood or secretions from an untreated, HIV infected person on your impact skin, there would be no risk for infection and no need for testing.

Theoretically, if you had an open cut or sore, and blood entered the wound, there is a minuscule risk for acquisition of HIV. This risk, however, is theoretical, and I am unaware of anyone who is required HIV in this fashion. EWH.

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30 months ago

Thank you very much for your help Dr Hook.