Glass shard.

[tanzinia12]

Good afternoon Doctors.

I know this is my second post recently and from trawling through replies I see that I ca only have two every 6 months. Thats cool.

This will probably sound stupid.

I was walking today in flip flops and i felt something underneath my sole of my foot on my flipflop. It didn't feel sore, just I could feel that it was there if that makes sense. I think it was a tiny shard of glass.

I got back to my car and checked my foot and it looked fine. I didn't see any blood or anything.

1. What I wanted to know was whether HIV could be transmitted this way?

2. The skin on the sole of the skin is quite thick, so am I right to say that, there would have to be a deep puncture with lots of visible blood to transmit HIV?

3. I have looked at the sole of my foot and there appears to be no punctures. But I worry about microscopic punctures that I may not see. Is that a possibility?

4.. Does HIV die instantly upon reacting with air? I read about needles etc so for needlestick injuries and how HIV can be transmitted this way.

5.. Is there any way/shape/form that I could have got HIV from this exposure?

6.. Have there ever been any reported cases of HIV ben transmitted like this.

7. Any need for testing/


Thanks Dr. Your service is invaluable.

[tanzinia12]

thank you dr. take care.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

These are same sort of anxiety-driven questions which caused me to have to terminate your last exchange.  Was NO RISK not clear?

1.  The word sliver refers to a piece of glass.
2.  This depends on the situation.  it is not a concern in your case.  Clearly any broken glass that occurred has occurred at some point in the past, not immediately before you stepped on it.
3.  As I said, NO RISK. Do you think I was not telling the truth?
4.  Yes, correct
5.  If you understand it is not a concern, why do you ask.  The term "microscopic puncture" is meaningless.
6.  Of course you would know.

If it seems like I am getting impatient with you, you are correct. These are silly, anxiety-based questions about a no risk exposure.  I'll have nothing more to say. EWH

[tanzinia12]

Thank You Dr.

1. It was not silver, it was glass. I really do think it was tiny, I do not think I saw it. Does that make a difference?

I do not know how long it was on the ground for, it was at a train station and there is building work going on and I think there was glass on the ground.

2. How long would you think the virus takes to die upon reacting with air?

I think I am being silly as I have had things trapped in my shoes before or scraped my hand or arm on something, so I for some reason think that this would be different when it really wouldn't be. If you allow yourself to worry about things like this, then you would never go out.

3. So, there have been no cases where HIV has been transmitted where there has been no anal/vaginal/oral (rarely) or an injection deep into the skin- which I would imagine would be painful and noticeable?

4. If My skin was pierced deeply, I would have known about it, as when I have had vaccines before with needles, I feel the pain so it would probably be even more noticeable on my foot. Correct?

5. Can microscopic punctures exist? I realised you said that this is not a concern.

6. Would a deep puncture produce blood? I.e. you would know if you had a deep puncture.

`thanks.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome back to the Forum. this was a no risk exposure.  HIV dies quickly on exposure to the environment and thus if, for some reason, HIV has been present on the sliver you stepped on, it would not be alive and able to transmit infection.  More importantly, there is little chance that there was HIV ever present on the sliver. this was a no risk exposure which does not need testing and should not be a reason for concern.  to address your specific concerns:

1. What I wanted to know was whether HIV could be transmitted this way?
See above- no.

2. The skin on the sole of the skin is quite thick, so am I right to say that, there would have to be a deep puncture with lots of visible blood to transmit HIV?
Even if this were a deep puncture, still no risk.

3. I have looked at the sole of my foot and there appears to be no punctures. But I worry about microscopic punctures that I may not see. Is that a possibility?
Not a concern

4.. Does HIV die instantly upon reacting with air? I read about needles etc so for needlestick injuries and how HIV can be transmitted this way.
Not instantly but quite quickly.  HIV might live a little longer in a hollow needle since it might be sheltered from drying within the hollow portion of the needle. This is irrelevant to your situation.  

5.. Is there any way/shape/form that I could have got HIV from this exposure?
NO!!

6.. Have there ever been any reported cases of HIV ben transmitted like this.
NO!!

7. Any need for testing/
NO!!

Time for you to stop worrying and move forward. EWH