HIV into large wound

This past weekend we went to a strip club and drank way too much. As soon as we left the strip club, my friend wanted to go across town to a different club. The taxi driver didn't want to go there, and he talked us into going to this massage place. At this time, the shots we had taken earlier were really effecting us, where we could hardly walk straight. However, after getting into the oriental massage place, we realized this was not something we wanted to do and decided to leave. This was after a couple of the girls came out and were shaking our hands.

We then went across the street to this gas station where I fell and cut a big gash in my elbow (this was about 5 minutes after leaving the massage place). I was trying to cover the place with my right hand to stop some of the bleeding because it was going down my arm.

So my question comes to this; is it possible to touch infected semen, or blood, or from someone's hand or a doorknob somewhere then touch a bleeding wound a few minutes later and get HIV? I don't know if HIV could have been absorbed into my wound from off my hand, it was bleeding very badly.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Is there some theoretical possibility that you could have had HIV contaminated secretions on your elbow hand that you inadvertantly massaged into the wound.  Sure.  But you should worry more about life's risks that are more likely to actually happen, like getting hit by a meteor.

In other words, forget it.  In the 25 years of the recognized HIV epidemic, it is probable that nobody ever caught HIV that way.

Good luck--  HHH, MD

[nervous_nikki]

No chance. Unless there were actual fresh fluids on your hand (which you would have noticed by the way--it is hard to miss something wet on your skin) there is NO RISK.  If HIV was transmitted this way, everyone would have it.  Think about how many times you shake people's hands in a day without knowing what they were doing before you shook their hand. The only way there would be a risk is if FRESH fluids got in that overt open wound. This type of risk which would be highly, highly unlikely anyways. Also, your judgement was off because of the alcohol so it is going to be hard to truly remember anything that actually happened that night.  Second, your nervousness and possible guilt/regret about going into the massage parlor is going to amplify any anxiety you might have. Don't worry, you will be fine. Take a deep breath and live you're life.