Blood Exposure from a fist fight

[Dumbfight]

Dr's,

Thanks for your time.  A week ago I unfortunately got into a fist fight outside a bar.  It was self defense as the person hit me first. I was knocked down and suffered scrapes on my knees and on my right pinky knuckle.  I took the guy to the ground and got in a about 4 shots before it was broken up.  The cut above my pinky knuckle was bleeding.  I think I broke his nose as there was blood on my hand. His and mine. Not a lot, but enough.  I do not know if his blood got into my cut on my hand as the blood I saw was on my middle knuckles with intact skin.  I had a few nicks on my face from the bush near by, but don't believe his blood got on my face.  He chased me down the street as I was trying to leave and yelled, "MF, you are going to die, you are going to get HIV!"  His nose was bleeding pretty severely afterward.  I also understand alcohol could thin out the blood causing it him to bleed more.

Scary stuff, to say the least. I've been all over multiple sites and understand no one has ever been confirmed to have gotten HIV from a fight/sports as the disease is rendered unable to transmit outside a living host.  However, this happened so fast was there time for my cut to start to clot before his blood my have entered. The bleeding stopped with a few minutes.

It was superficial wound similar to road rash or turf burn you would get from a field.  

I am in a monogamous relationship and do not want to cause harm to my girlfriend.  I am unsure about my opponents sexual status, but he was we a few gay guys that night.  I realize HIV is not a gay disease, but I want to be thorough with my facts.  In addition, I washed the cut off a few minutes later with a wet rag, no soap.

Please let me know if I require testing or have need for concern.

Thanks,

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Welcome to the forum.

I can understand your concern; it was obviously a frightening situation. However, your own research is correct:  even though biting or tooth wounds in a fight, with blood exposure, is commonly listed as a transmission risk, to my knowledge no such cases are known to have occurred.

So from a risk assessment standpoint, no testing is necessary.  However, most people who are nervous about a possible exposure are not satisfied by verbal reassurance alone.  If these words erase all concern, that would be great.  But if you remain nervous, get tested for reassurance.  In the meantime, I don't think you need to worry about any risk to your girlfriend.  If I were in your situation, I would continue unprotected sex with my wife with no fear for her health or safety.

I hope this helps. Best wishes--  HHH, MD

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Congratulations on the negative test result.  That was the only likely outcome, but I'm glad you feel reassured.  Take care.

[Dumbfight]

Thanks for the quick responses... Just got my 30 day duo test back and as you predicted I was negative.  Thanks again.

[Dumbfight]

Yep, got it clearly.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

We don't expect much of questioners, but we do expect them to read our replies and not ask what has already been answered.  Re-read the entire second paragraph above.

[Vance2335]

I helped you over in the free forum and want to help you again. Read Dr.HHH 2nd paragraph the first sentence..."So from a risk assessment standpoint, no testing is necessary."-Dr.HHH

[Dumbfight]

But you still dont think there is a need for testing?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

You need not wait 3 months.  For an antibody-only test, 6-8 weeks is generally sufficient.  If you have a combo test for both HIV antibody and p24 antigen, the result is definitive at 4 weeks.  See the threads below (for the second, start reading with the follow-up comment on Sept 19).

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/HIV-Prevention/-A-Question-on-Testing/show/1347755
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/HIV-Prevention/Need-your-help/show/1345664

[Dumbfight]

Thanks so much.  The work you do is invaluable.  There is so many untruths about the transmission of the disease it causes paranoia and unneccesary panic.  Thanks again.  I probably will have a test done at 4 weeks because I'm not sure if I can last 3 months of not sleeping.

Again, thank you.