POZ Community Forums

HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: glovemaker on February 13, 2009, 05:22:14 pm

Title: A rather bizarre exposure.
Post by: glovemaker on February 13, 2009, 05:22:14 pm
                                           
Hello there, and may I thank you for the service you offer.

I come to you with a worry that I know in my head to be a non-risk, but I'm having trouble convincing my usually rational mind otherwise.

My roommate was moving out of the room (I live in college) and taking posters off the walls. She pricked herself on the finger with a pin, swore, then overdramatically threw the pin to the floor. Her finger was bleeding.

Right after this, literally a matter of 5-10 seconds or so, I was aiding some other people in carrying out her television and I stood on the aforementioned pin. This little fucker went deep, going about half an inch in and getting stuck inside, causing quite some pain in removal. Two days later I'm still having trouble walking.

So I think you can see where I'm going with this. Blood on pin, pin in foot, is this a risk, yada yada. I know that HIV isn't *usually* transmitted outside the body, but given the depth of the wound and the time frame it seems like more of a possibility.

What do you guys think?
Title: Re: A rather bizarre exposure.
Post by: Andy Velez on February 13, 2009, 05:33:13 pm
The lingering soreness you are experiencing is not surprising. If it continues you should see a doctor.

Variations on the kind of accident you had are very common. I've never known of a case of transmission in such a manner nor is it one that requires testing. HIV is a fragile virus and it simply doesn't get transmitted from such pinstickings, scrapes, nicks, cuts and such.

I don't see any cause for concern about HIV.
Title: Re: A rather bizarre exposure.
Post by: glovemaker on February 13, 2009, 05:53:17 pm
Thanks Andy. I know that HIV dies pretty quickly outside of the body but I was worried about this because the injury was so immediate.

The CDC website added to my fears too.
Thanks again.
Title: Re: A rather bizarre exposure.
Post by: Andy Velez on February 13, 2009, 06:04:21 pm
Be wary of starting to surf the net because believe me you will find plenty of fodder to feed your worst fears. You were not at risk. The CDC often adopts a very conservative response about "possible" and/or theoretical risks over things we know never cause transmission in the real world of HIV.
Title: Re: A rather bizarre exposure.
Post by: Ann on February 14, 2009, 05:39:04 am
glove,

The ONLY thing you're at risk for in this situation is a bacterial infection. Make sure you get your foot looked at by a doctor if it continues to be sore - you may need antibiotics.

But hiv? Forget it. Hiv is not transmitted in this manner.

Since you're a young adult, you need to know the real ways hiv is transmitted and how to protect yourself. Along with reading the Transmission Lesson linked to in our Welcome Thread (http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=220.0), here's what eles you need to know:

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 with a condom lasts only a matter of minutes, but hiv is forever.

Have a look through all three condom and lube links in my signature line so you can use condoms with confidence.

ALTHOUGH YOU DO NOT NEED TO TEST OVER THIS PIN INCIDENT, 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.

Use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, correctly and consistently, and you will avoid hiv infection. It really is that simple.

Ann