[Question #9876] Does nail scratch someone to bleed pose risk?

28 months ago

Hello Doctors, a day ago I was waiting in a queue in a public setting. While waiting I was swinging my hand, and I felt like my nail scratched or poked on the young man's hand who was standing behind me.

If my nails scratched or poked on that person's hand skin and made him bleed, and his fresh blood goes under my nails, contact with my finger's hyponychium and nail bed, will that put me at infection risk? (Assuming that person is HIV +). I took a quick look at my finger immediately, I don't think I saw any obvious blood mark on my fingers nail, and I didn't wash my hand until I got home about an hour later, because there was no restroom nearby.

Worst case, what is the risk of exposure to the direct contact between my nail's mucous membranes to his skin wound (if I made him bleed)?

Thank you.

Edward W. Hook M.D.

28 months ago

Welcome to the Forum. Thanks for your question. There is a widespread lack of understanding of how difficult it is for HIV transmission to occur. HIV is transmitted only through penetrative sex with an untreated HIV infected person or by injection of infected material deep into tissue. Even then, transmission is rather uncommon. For most sexual contact, infections are transmitted less than once for more than 1000 exposures (in other words, 99.9% of exposures do NOT lead to infection) and injection with a needle contaminated by HIV results in infection only 1% of the time. Further, most people do not have HIV and of those who are infected, many are n effective therapy making them non-infectious to others.

Even if the scratch you may have experienced was with an untreated HIV infected person (unlikely) and even if the blood got under your nail, this would be a no risk encounter. There is no reason for concern and no scientific or medical reason for testing. Please don't worry. EWH

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28 months ago

Thank you for your quick response, Dr. Hook.

So you are saying, if I scratched someone to bleed, even an untreated HIV-infected person, and his blood got under my nail, this still would be a no-risk encounter for me, right?

Thank you.

Edward W. Hook M.D.

28 months ago

Correct. EWH---

28 months ago

Thank you for your answer, Dr. Hook.

I had a quick question before this thread closed, due to a recent experience. I hope you can spare a minute to educate me.

My mouth got multiple sores, due to putting in some very hot food mouth, that I wasn't aware of, and it led to multiple mouth ulcers, sometimes it bleeds (plus my lips are parched as well) which is quite painful.

While talking with different people, if their saliva/droplet with blood contact with my mouth ulcers, will there be a risk of transmission (if it is from an untreated HIV-infected person)?

Thank you so much.

Edward W. Hook M.D.

28 months ago

HIV is not known to be transmitted by exchange of saliva, with deep, open mouth kissing being the best example. Open mouth sores, gum disease, recent cuts on the tongue do not change this. Persons who consider saliva contact, even with open mouth sores a risk for HIV are incorrect.

I hope that the information I have provided has been helpful. Take care. This completes this thread. EWH

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