A Strange Situation

     I recently found out that my HIV+ roommate has been mistakenly using my towel to clean up breast milk that she expresses due to medication she's on.  This has been happening for a period of 3 months.  We didn't figure it out until today when we reached for the same towel!  I know this is a really strange situation.  I'm just really worried and don't know if there's a reason to be.  I know that you cannot get HIV from sharing a towel, but I feel this is a special case since typically towels do not have breast milk on them.
     I am concerned because on a number of occasions I have gotten a shower right after she was in there doing that.  Therefore, if I happened to rub my vagina with the towel with the still wet breast milk, I reason there is a risk.  Could you please tell me what the risk is of rubbing myself with a towel with several drops of her wet breast milk on it?  And, if the risk is low, could you explain why?  Finally, would you recommend testing for this type of exposure? This is just something that has been really taxing my mind and I don't know if it should be.  Your help would be greatly appreciated.  

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

There is no realistic chance of catching HIV.  No household members of HIV infected people ever catch HIV, unless they are also sex partners or share injection equipment.  And breast milk is not highly infectious.  The amount of HIV in breast milk is extremely low, usually not there at all.  Among babies nursed by HIV infected mothers not on HIV treatment, 85% never become infected, despite swallowing several ounces of milk every day.  If your partner takes anti-retroviral treatment, the risk would be even lower.

The only thing a household member of an HIV infected person really needs to worry about is blood exposure.  Don't share razors, for example; and if the infected person bleeds, wear gloves for clean-up and wash well with soap and water.  (Even without those precautions, the transmission risk is extremely low.)

Given your anxieties, I suggest you have a frank discussion with your roommate and ask to accompany her the next time she visits her HIV provider to discuss your concerns.  While there is little if any scientific basis to your fears, they are understandable.  You'll feel better if a real HIV expert reassures you.

Good luck--  HHH, MD

[goldgirl1]

Thank you for your prompt response!  I have talked with my roommate and am going to go in with her next time.  I was very relieved by your response.  However, I have had a little bit of self doubt because on a few occasions, possibly right after she was in the bathroom, I wore my towel around before getting my shower because I had forgotten my shampoo or some other item.  Maybe I'm making too much out of this, but the towel might have rubbed me or I might have scratched and none of the time during which I got my shower would have elapsed to allow the breast milk to partially dry.  It would have been nearly immediate contact.  I'm pretty sure your first reply about there being no realistic chance still holds true, but I was wondering if you would confirm that this scenario is in fact no more dangerous than the other.  I promise it's my last remark about this strange situation.  A final comment from you would put my worrying mind at ease.  Thank you for your time.  

[goldgirl1]

Thank you very much for your reassurance.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

The additional information does not change my opinion or advice. Trust me on this:   you are not at risk.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Hey, Folks.  Take the non-medical conversations over to the HIV support forum, not here.  Thanks.

[goldgirl1]

I know I said that would be last question.  But I thought more realistically about how many times I would have worn the towel.  I am very forgetful with shampoo and stuff (that's immaterial), but it would have been more like 9 or 10 times to have worn the towel in the span of three months (not just a few times).  I'm really sorry to trouble you.  I have OCD (not that that's an excuse) and I'm just really trying to relax about this.  It's not that I don't trust what you say because I do.  I just fear that I have not relayed the situation exactly as it was and that therefore, somehow, your advice would change.  Does the increase in how many times I would have worn the towel around make a difference?  

[goldgirl1]

Just a one word answer would be all I need.  After that, no further discussion. Thanks again.

[Jaguar83]

No.

[goldgirl1]

Please, doctor, I'm begging you to answer.  I only thought a few more times would make a difference because it would have increased the probability of me rubbing myself with the towel.  I thought your conclusion that I was not at risk might have been reached based on the unlikeliness of the towel rubbing me when I was wearing it around before my shower.  Thus, a few more times would increase the possible times it could have happened.  I really do value your opinion.  Maybe I am digging around too much in the details.  

[goldgirl1]

Please.  I honeslty am sorry to trouble you.  Just a one-word answer if it makes a difference or not about how many times I wore the towel.  This is driving me crazy that maybe you didn't get the exact details and that that would change your opinion.  Please?  I swear it's my last question.

[Jaguar83]

8 times - no problem.
9+ times - infection.

Are you serious?

[goldgirl1]

No. I'm not serious at all.  I just like to sit and wait endlessly to see if an answer will come for fun.  It's really what I love to do.  But whatever.  Forget it.  I pointed out something valid--that is, whether I was at low risk because it was unlikely the towel rubbed me or whether I was at low risk just because of the nature of breast milk not being very infectious.  I guess it's COMPLETELY

[goldgirl1]

crazy to want to know which it is.  My mistake.  Apparently not that kind of forum.  Will not happen again in the future.

[goldgirl1]

Oh, and excuse me.  I meant no realistic risk, not low risk.  But anyway, inquisitive minds are an unfortunate thing to have.  No more posting from me.