POZ Community Forums
HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: Curious23 on September 23, 2013, 09:13:28 pm
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Hello. I have a situation that I would like opinions on. I received a manicure from a place that does not appear to sterilize their instruments between customers. Unfortunately, I realized this too late for it to matter. I did not see the tools (clippers/cuticle trimmers) come out of an autoclave or sterilization liquid. Unfortunately, they also clearly reused buffers/ files between customers. I am only worried about the cuticle nippers because the rest of the tools did not touch my skin in any compromising way. However, I did get a cuticle trim. I did not notice any blood on the tool (that was obvious, at least) and I did not get noticeable, bleeding cut a far as I can tell. However, I have heard that hiv/hep can be transmitted through clear fluid that the cuticles can release when being cut or through microscopic particles of blood. Do you think this is a realistic mode of transmission for hiv/hep? I am pretty sure that hiv is not possible, because the tools sat for at least a few minutes before being used on me and I believe that HIV pretty much dies when exposed to air. However, I would like to verify this with you if I could. What about Hep? Would I have to have an obviously bleeding wound or would microscopic particles matter? My NP says that she wouldn't be concerned as I didn't get a cut/subsequent infection and therefore do not need a hep test. What do you think? I appreciate the straightforwardness of this forum and the fact that you don't use scare tactics, which is why I am posting here. I appreciate your time and expertise on this matter. I apologize if this is a silly question. Thank you!
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You didn't have a risk for HIV . The risk factors for HIV are ...
Sharing IV drug needles immediately after use.
Unprotected anal and vaginal sex.
Mother to child during or shortly after birth
Very specific healthcare situations
Hepatitis is much easier to transmit than HIV but we deal in HIV assessments here and can only speak with authority that you didn't have a risk for HIV .
HIV is fragile and becomes instantly damaged when exposed to oxygen rendering it unable to infect , so its not a risk and its why you never hear people say I got HIV from a bad manicure .
Use condoms correctly and consistently for vaginal and anal sex and you will avoid HIV . Its really just that simple .
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Hi Jeff,
Thanks for your reply! I appreciate you confirming the fact that it was not an HIV risk, at least! Sorry about posting about the Hep, I wasn't thinking about the appropriateness of the Hep question when I posted it. My apologies. Thanks again!
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No Problem and you are most welcome .
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Hello again,
I have another quick question to ask you about concerning the possibility for HIV transmission. I was visiting a client recently who has a history of injection drug use and had to have him sign some paperwork. When I first visited the client, I noticed he was scratching his groin/leg region (without clothes/under blanket, clt was in hospital setting) and he had a open wound on his leg that was being treated by staff. I am worried that he could have scratched an area with blood and then passed it on to my pen/clipboard and then on to me. I didn't have any visible cuts on my fingers, but I did have some mild eczema on my wrists (which I touched to push up my sleeves to wash my hand after the meeting) that burned a little when I put hand sanitizer on them, so it may have been open? Maybe a few seconds passed before he gave my pen back to me, but that's it. Can particles of HIV transfer from a surface to a person in this manner? Would this be a concern? Also, what is considered an occupational exposure? Thank you!
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Unless you have unprotected anal or vaginal sex or share drug injection equipment you need not worry about HIV . HIV is fragile and is not transmitted in the manner you are concerned with .