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HIV - International (Expert Forum)
Bitten with broken skin with visible blood
Answered by
Sean Cummings, MBBS; T(GP); DRCOG; MRCGP; DFFP; LLM - STD/STI HIV prevention, testing and treatment
FreedomHealth
London - United Kingdom
This forum is for questions and discussions relating to HIV exposure and risks, living with HIV, HIV prevention, HIV testing, HIV transmission, HIV treatment. All questions will be answered by a medical expert from FreedomHealth.
Bitten with broken skin with visible blood
by shawk316, Oct 22, 2009 05:58PM
I was bitten by someone which resulted in a tear in the skin on my knuckle. I only noticed my blood and no saliva or other blood around the wound. I washed the wound with soap and water and cleaned it with alcohol within minutes and applied some anti bacterial ointment on it. The wound was about 2mm x 1.5mm when I measured it. The person who bit me is HIV+ and also is coinfected with Hepatitis C. Both are at undetectable levels (if that really means anything?). The incident happened 2 weeks ago and I have not been able to sleep well and am having great trouble concentrating. What is the possibility of actually contracting these diseases in this manner and how soon should I get tested for the results to mean anything. The day after exposure I went and was tested for HIV by HIV1-Abs and the results were negative (I didn't get tested for Hep C only because I didn't know about that until 2 days ago). How effective are the PCR tests for HIV at the 28 day mark? And is there a similiar test that I can take for the Hepatitis C at 28 days?
Doctor's Answer
by Sean Cummings, MBBS; T(GP); DRCOG; MRCGP; DFFP; LLM, Oct 25, 2009 10:57AM
, Oct 25, 2009 10:57AMTo: shawk316
Hello,
That all seems rather unlucky doesn't it.
Human bites can cause infection but I'm not aware of any details in the literature of transfer of HIV or Hep C via this route. The infections are usually bacterial - and the steps you took are more than adequate in terms of that.
In terms of testing, I think firstly that you should be reassured that this represents a theoretical risk only - very very low risk. You can have a PCR Hep C and HIV test now which will show whether you have been infected or not. If both are negative then you are not positive to either.
best wishes, Sean
That all seems rather unlucky doesn't it.
Human bites can cause infection but I'm not aware of any details in the literature of transfer of HIV or Hep C via this route. The infections are usually bacterial - and the steps you took are more than adequate in terms of that.
In terms of testing, I think firstly that you should be reassured that this represents a theoretical risk only - very very low risk. You can have a PCR Hep C and HIV test now which will show whether you have been infected or not. If both are negative then you are not positive to either.
best wishes, Sean
Post Comment
finger biting(lil wound,red skin,still open skin,next to nail,lilbit
sollwn ,NOT BLOODY,not fresh,was there for couple 1 or 2 day already,
is a real wound where hiv can get in?
in case of contact woth infected blood?