Environmental exposure?

Hi Doctor-

I recently stood on a small metal object in the street. I was wearing thick leather boots so I wasn't worried about a needle stick and in any case I'm almost entirely sure it was just a screw-it was solid metal without a thin needle like point. But afterwards the "what ifs" set in and I started to worry that if were a needle and I came into contact with it-say the tips of my hair when I leaned over to inspect it-would it have been a risk? The exposure if it had been a needle (really don't think so) wouldn't have been a stick it would have been getting blood from the needle onto hair or skin-though I was very well wrapped up as it's very cold out here and I don't have any open cuts I can see.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Welcome to the forum.  I'll try to help.

You should not have the slightest worry about this event.  Nobody in the world has ever caught HIV in this manner.  The chance that a random "small metal object in the street" would be contaminated with human blood has to be zero or close to it; and by your description, your skin wasn't broken anyway.   As for the tips of your hair contacting it and getting contaminated -- well, if you think about it, you will realize how impossible that is.

So this event is not something you should be remotely concerned about, and for sure no testing is needed for HIV or anything else.

Take care--  HHH, MD

[naser393]

how accurate

[brenda76103]

Thanks so much Doctor. I  guess at the back of my mind I was really worried that it might have been a needle-it was dark outside. But I saw the object I was worried about today and it definitely wasn't a needle-just a small conical metal object. I guess at the absolute worst case scenario (I'm really over thinking here) is that it could have been the attachment bit that attaches a needle to a tube but 1) I don't think those are made of metal and 2) I guess without a needle those attachments wouldn't be any riskier to come in contact with than any other object in the environment? And the very very worst case scenario is that my coat or hair could have brushed against it-no skin contact at all.

[brenda76103]

Sorry, to clarify, want I meant is perhaps my coat or hair could have contacted it then contacted my skin-which isn't broken except for a tiny paper cut on one hand. No direct skin contact at all and I didn't see any blood on the little metal thing.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

My opinion and advice would apply even if were a used injection needle.

It sounds like you might be one of those people with abnormal, irrational fear of contagion.  The concerns you have expressed in this thread are very abnormal.  If such fears are isolated to HIV and occur infrequently, and do not have a serious impact on your life, perhaps you can live with it.  But if it bothersome and you fear being around people, touching doorknobs, use of toilets other have used, etc then it can be quite serious.  (For an excellent example where it can lead, see "The Aviator", the film biography of Howard Hughes.)  So you may need to consider professional counseling.  I suggest it from compassion, not criticism.  However, continuing the disucssion here is not an appropriate substitute, and will likely just continue to inflame your fears; no matter what I say, another fearful thought will arise "st the back of [your] head".  So that will end this thread.

Best wishes--  HHH, MD

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

My opinion and advice would apply even if were a used injection needle.

It sounds like you might be one of those people with abnormal, irrational fear of contagion.  The concerns you have expressed in this thread are very abnormal.  If such fears are isolated to HIV and occur infrequently, and do not have a serious impact on your life, perhaps you can live with it.  But if it is bothersome and you fear being around people, touching doorknobs, use of toilets other have used, etc then it can be quite serious.  (For an excellent example where it can lead, see "The Aviator", the film biography of Howard Hughes.)  So you may need to consider professional counseling.  I suggest it from compassion, not criticism.  However, continuing the disucssion here is not an appropriate substitute, and will likely just continue to inflame your fears; no matter what I say, another fearful thought will arise "at the back of [your] head".  So that will end this thread.

Best wishes--  HHH, MD