[Question #9709] Risk of getting HIV
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29 months ago
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I am from Canada and Last week, I went to few popular shops to buy some clothes and then went to a small grocery store to buy few stuff. At grocery store, I suddenly noticed a paper cut like a small minor cut on top side of my index finger (distal phalanx area) .There was little visible blood on the cut . No continuous bleeding and it was like a blood clot (exactly like a paper cut) .I am not sure how I got this minor cut , but I am pretty sure it is within the time of shopping . I suspect I got it from cardboard clothing tag or from a edge of plastic food bag. I was unaware at the at time it occurred but later I noticed it which is exactly like a paper cut. After 5 minutes I washed my hands with soap and cover it with a band aid. Until next day it stings a little, if I wash it or press it harder. But after a day, it was normal and I could see little brown crust thing on it.
What is the risk of I am getting hiv from this incident?
I read that to get infected with hiv , it should be a deep cut. Is it true. does this type of paper cuts pose a risk of getting HIV? Do I need to consider about PEP or testing?
Can I resume sex with my partner without any worries?
What if there was hiv infected blood on the object , before I got this scratch?
Also due my OCD I was very protective while shopping and I was very careful of sharp things at shops.
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29 months ago
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Also what if i get this from a needle left inside the shop ( very unlikely as I was very protective of my self at these shops due to ocd and if so i should have seen it). Will this type of minor cut consider as a deep wound to transmit hiv in a such scenario?
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
29 months ago
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Welcome to our forum. Thanks for your question. Thanks as well for acknowledging your OCD. The event that you described was absolutely no risk for acquisition of HIV. HIV is required only through unprotected, direct sexual contact or injection of infected material deep into tissue. There are no recorded instances in which persons have acquired HIV paper cut. There is no medical or scientific reason for testing related to this event, nor is there any reason to consider PEP. Similarly, there is no reason whatsoever for you to consider abstaining from sex with your regular partner.
I hope this information is helpful. Please don’t worry. EWH.
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29 months ago
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On the same day, before went on shopping I went for a (glucose) blood draw(vein) , from major canadian lab.
Until collection of my samples ,I kept my winter jacket on the armrest of the phlebotomy chair.
I am pretty sure I did not had my paper cut at the time of blood collection or within 30 miniutes after the blood draw.
I did not see any noticible visible blood on plebotomy chair or my jacket. AS these standalone specimen collection sites maintained high standard level (even they are not a hospital setup). Only way chair could get contaminated is by patient touching the chair after pressing needle site with the dry cotton-wool ball.
if I got the cut from my jacket's pocket metal zipper.
1.could hiv virus from a previous patient came in to contact with chair and then with my Jacket zipper and infected me from the cut I got by jacket zipper within 1-3 hours?
3.If my jacket zipper was contaminated how long virus can be infectious?
5.What is the risk if I got the paper cut from the jacket zipper rightaway after blood draw?
6. Can i still consider this cut as a no risk event for hiv?
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29 months ago
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I forgot to mention above in my intial question which may be a important fact to assess my risk. May be I got the paper cut from a platic bag or from the jacket zipper.
To recap things
Feb 21 - 2.50pm Blood collection .place my jacket on plabhatomy chair.
Feb 21 - 2.55pm left the lab. No paper cut
Feb 21 - 3.15pm went home. remove jacket for a bit. Wash my hands thoroughly, no paper cut
Feb 21- 3.20pm wear the same jacket went shoppping.
Feb 21 -3.20pm - 5.50pm. shopping
Feb 21 - 5.35pm - notice the paper cut on my finger with little blood
Appllogies for long reply.
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
29 months ago
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I'm sorry you are still focused on the no risk event you described. I suspect you rationally know that your question reflects your OCD and not true risk. HIV is transmitted only through unprotected penetrative sexual encounters or injection of infected material deep into tissue. Brief responses:
1.could hiv virus from a previous patient came in to contact with chair and then with my Jacket zipper and infected me from the cut I got by jacket zipper within 1-3 hours?
No
3.If my jacket zipper was contaminated how long virus can be infectious?
You could not become infected from contamination of your jacket.
5.What is the risk if I got the paper cut from the jacket zipper rightaway after blood draw?
Zero
6. Can i still consider this cut as a no risk event for hiv?
Yes
Please work to address your OCD. EWH
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29 months ago
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Thanks. Yes I am working on my OCD. I have this new incident and this will be my final question.
Yesterday I went to see a monk at a Canadian temple with my family.
As a treat he handed me over a bunch of bananas.While taking it I felt a sting on my finger.Today I ask him if he got any cut from the banana stem at that morning. But he did not recall any thing similar.
As I remember monk hold it from the end part and I grabbed the bananas from hard base part which is hard stalk. I saw that part of this very dry, hard stalk stick in to my finger( very quick and not deep)
I wash my hands after few minutes and after 10 mins I pressed my finger (due to worries) but could not see any blood. My sting like pain last around a day.
1.What is the risk of getting hiv if he got stuck his finger from the same area of the stem and then I got stuck?
2.This is not a deep wound or I didnt notice any blood, but it stings a bit. can I get infected if there was tiny bit of blood on hard banana stalk?
3.I cant find any wound or stick mark on my finger. Can this be consider as injection of infected material deep into tissue?
4. Should I get tested?
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
29 months ago
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This is a repetitive question. Please see my comment above about how HIV is transmitted – only through penetrative, sexual contact or injection of infectious material deep into tissue. Neither of those occurred during the event you described. In addition, it is highly unlikely that the monk and HIV. Therefore:
1. Zero
2. No
3. No
4. No
As you know, we provide up to three responses to each clients question. This is my third response. This thread will be closed shortly without further responses.
In addition, I should caution you that additional anxiety driven questions regarding no risk events may be closed without a return of your posting fee, and without a response. You need to address your OCD, not worry about the sorts of innocuous events that you describe. I say this out of concern for you, nothing else. EWH.
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