HIV Transmission from a Nail Scratch

[MM120]

I was working with an AIDS patient (very high viral load-->750,000) and I was helping him to sit upright on his bed and he thought he would fall--so he reached out for my arm and scratched me with his fingernails--under which I looked under and could see no visible bodily fluids. I could only see on my arm a very small scratch--red  (cut )line half an inch--I don't know how deep the scratch went but I could'nt see any blood &it is painful

What do you consider my risk to be?

[worried826]

A scratch wont get you infected. I would think you would know this since you work around AIDS patients.

[SSK2007]

Response from Dr. Frascino

Hello,

What do I consider your risk to be? That's easy nonexistent.

What would I recommend? That's easy as well. Stop taking Combivir (not "cobivir," by the way). You have no risk of HIV transmission, but you do have a risk of drug side effects and toxicities from Combivir. Finally, I agree with the infectious diseases team ("nothing to worry about"). I also agree with their recommendation that you should not take PEP. You are not taking a "precaution;" you are taking a risk!

We really do know what we are talking about, and whoever prescribed the PEP for you should not have done so.

Dr. Bob

[MM120]

I did not remember that i notice any blood in his hand but am not sure