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Author Topic: No risk?  (Read 9371 times)

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Offline Issues

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No risk?
« on: December 07, 2023, 12:07:52 pm »
a month ago, a guy moved into our apartment complex with HIV, we have all been taking precautions to protect ourselves, today, taking out the trash, i touched something that looked like blood. So i knocked on his apartment door and asked if he is undetectable and if the blood was his but instead of answering, he started cursing.

i know that this is a low to medium risk, and his anger indicates to me he isn't undetectable, is PEP justified for this risk and when can I test?

Offline leatherman

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Re: No risk?
« Reply #1 on: December 07, 2023, 02:42:03 pm »
i know that this is a low to medium risk,
That's incorrect. this was not a risk at all.

HIV is only transmitted through unprotected anal/vaginal sex or injection needles. Changes in the environment (temp, air exposure) make it impossible for HIV to transmit by blood unless it's by immediately sharing injection needles.

The only people in your apartment complex who even need to be concerned would be anyone having unprotected sex with your neighbor. And then they might not be at risk if they are on PrEP or if your neighbor's viral load is undetectable.

You were very misinformed when confronting your neighbor like that, and should probably apologize and explain that you are now more informed. I'd also suggest you pass this information around to all your other gossipy neighbors who have been discussing someone's health issues while also being misinformed about HIV transmission.


Have a great day,
Michael


Reducing Your HIV risks:
With no exceptions, use condoms correctly and consistently for anal or vaginal intercourse
Talk to a healthcare provider about PrEP as another layer of protection

Get tested yearly for HIV and other STIs.
If you don’t use condoms and/or PrEP, test more frequently

Some sexual practices described as safe in terms of acquiring HIV still pose a risk for other more easily acquired STIs. It is possible to show no signs or symptoms from an STI so testing is the only way to know.

Get tested at least yearly for STIs, including but not limited to HIV, and more frequently if condomless intercourse occurs.

What’s the ONLY way to know if you’ve been infected by HIV or an STI?
Get tested.


Please Note.
As a member of the "Do I have HIV" Forum, you are required to only post in this one thread no matter how long between visits or the subject matter. You can find this thread by going to your profile and selecting show own post, which will take you here. It helps us to help you when you keep all your thoughts or questions in one thread, and it helps other readers to follow the discussion. Any additional threads will be removed.
leatherman (aka Michael)

We were standing all alone
You were leaning in to speak to me
Acting like a mover shaker
Dancing to Madonna then you kissed me
And I think about it all the time
- Darren Hayes, "Chained to You"

Offline Issues

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Re: No risk?
« Reply #2 on: August 23, 2024, 04:37:18 am »
Please help.

Yesterday i helped with a community cleanup project, when picking up a trash bag i had sudden pain and found a syringe, i went to the ER immediately but the doctor said; "a prick from a discarded syringe is no HIV risk" and I was refused PEP, they cleaned my hand and gave me antibiotics.

Please help me understand as i googled and needle stick injuries is reported as a route for HIV so why the doctor saying its not? how can it be i need antibiotics but not PEP? 
« Last Edit: August 23, 2024, 04:39:47 am by Issues »

Offline leatherman

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Re: No risk?
« Reply #3 on: August 23, 2024, 05:54:35 am »
"a prick from a discarded syringe is no HIV risk" 
That doctor was correct.

HIV is a fragile virus. While normally sharing injection needles can be a risk for HIV, HIV dies quickly from exposure to air and temperature changes. A syringe with some blood in it immediately shared can be a risk because the blood hasn't had time to lose temperature outside the body, and isn't exposed to air.

However, the injection needle you were stuck by was one clearly left out for some time (more than a few minutes) and was not an HIV risk.

I'd like to thank you :-* for being part of a cleanup project, and I hope this incident doesn't stop you from helping again in the future. For your peace of mind - and to not get cut, scraped or pricked by random garbage - invest in a thicker part of gloves for next time. ;)

Have a good day,
Michael


Reducing Your HIV risks:
With no exceptions, use condoms correctly and consistently for anal or vaginal intercourse
Talk to a healthcare provider about PrEP as another layer of protection

Get tested yearly for HIV and other STIs.
If you don’t use condoms and/or PrEP, test more frequently

Some sexual practices described as safe in terms of acquiring HIV still pose a risk for other more easily acquired STIs. It is possible to show no signs or symptoms from an STI so testing is the only way to know.

Get tested at least yearly for STIs, including but not limited to HIV, and more frequently if condomless intercourse occurs.

What’s the ONLY way to know if you’ve been infected by HIV or an STI?
Get tested.


Please Note.
As a member of the "Do I have HIV" Forum, you are required to only post in this one thread no matter how long between visits or the subject matter. You can find this thread by going to your profile and selecting show own post, which will take you here. It helps us to help you when you keep all your thoughts or questions in one thread, and it helps other readers to follow the discussion. Any additional threads will be removed.
leatherman (aka Michael)

We were standing all alone
You were leaning in to speak to me
Acting like a mover shaker
Dancing to Madonna then you kissed me
And I think about it all the time
- Darren Hayes, "Chained to You"

 


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