POZ Community Forums
HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: LGHelp on July 16, 2013, 08:37:13 am
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Ann and Andy,
Yesterday, I had an encounter with an HIV positive co-worker that has given me some anxiety. I've never worried about contracting anything from him before, but this circumstance made me wonder. While sitting at my desk I scratched the side of my face (right next to the ear) but didn't pay much attention to it. Shortly after, my co-worker came over to me, shook my hand, and we spoke for a few moments. After we concluded our conversation, and before washing my hands, I touched the scratched area. When I pulled away my fingers I noticed blood on them. It appears I scratched hard enough to draw blood, but didn't realize.
If my co-worker had an open cut on his hand, and part of the blood on my fingers was his, could I be infected by then touching the scratch. It would be direct blood to blood contact via an open, bleeding wound. If he didn't have a cut, could I still be at risk from sweat, and or other germs on the surface of his hands coming in direct contact with my open (and bleeding) wound?
I know handshakes are not a risk, in general, but I shook hands, then almost immediately after touched an open, and activity bleeding wound on my face. I am a bit concerned over this incident. Please help me...
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You are worrying absolutely needlessly. HIV is a very fragile virus and is not transmitted in the manner you are concerned about. Let it go and get on with your life. No risk, period! And of course no need for testing.
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LG,
Your knowledge of hiv transmission is over thirty years out of date.
Sweat is NOT an infectious bodily fluid.
If this guy took a knife, slashed his hand open, then rubbed his gashed, bleeding hand on your bleeding scratch, then you might have a problem, but even then it would be doubtful.
Hiv is a fragile, difficult to transmit virus that is primarily transmitted INSIDE the human body, as in unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse where the virus never leaves the confines of the two bodies.
Once outside the body, small changes in temperature, and pH and moisture levels all quickly damage the virus and render it unable to infect. For this reason, even if he did have a small amount of his own blood on his hand, it would NOT be a risk to you.
In adults, hiv is transmitted through:
Unprotected anal intercourse.
Unprotected vaginal intercourse.
Sharing drug injecting equipment.
And that's IT.
Unless you have unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse (or share drug injecting equipment) with your coworker, there's no way in hell you're going to be infected with hiv from him. If you're tempted to have sex with him at an office party, just make sure you use a condom and you won't have a problem.
Here's what you need to know in order to avoid hiv infection:
You need to be using condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, every time, no exceptions until such time as you are in a securely monogamous relationship where you have both tested for ALL sexually transmitted infections together.
To agree to have unprotected intercourse is to consent to the possibility of being infected with an STI. Sex without a condom lasts only a matter of minutes, but hiv is forever.
Have a look through the condom and lube links in my signature line so you can use condoms with confidence.
ALTHOUGH YOU DO NOT NEED TO TEST OVER ANY SORT OF HANDSHAKE, anyone who is sexually active should be having a full sexual health care check-up, including but not limited to hiv testing, at least once a year and more often if unprotected intercourse occurs.
If you aren't already having regular, routine check-ups, now is the time to start. As long as you make sure condoms are being used for intercourse, you can fully expect your routine hiv tests to return with negative results.
Don't forget to always get checked for all the other sexually transmitted infections as well, because they are MUCH easier to transmit than hiv. Some of the other STIs can be present with no obvious symptoms, so the only way to know for sure is to test.
Use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, correctly and consistently, and you will avoid hiv infection. It really is that simple!
Ann