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Metal Pipe Cleaner
hello,
I am a teacher and we were using colored pipe cleaners for a craft project in our classroom. The pipe cleaners have a sharp metal point at both ends, and are covered with fuzzy "yarn" i guess. One of my students jokingly poked me with the sharp metal part of a pipe cleaner. I am worried that he was poking other students in the classroom with the sharp metal part, then he poked me with it. I did not see any blood on my arm, and I did not see any blood on the pipe cleaner after I thoroughly inspected it. Later that night, I saw a small red dot on my arm, but it was not bleeding, it looked like a blood blister, and I scratched at it until it bled. Now I am worried that the metal piece broke my skin and he poked another student with it first who possibly has HIV.
I am very worried about this situation, and I would like to know if there is ANY chance that I could contract HIV if the kid poked a student with HIV, then immediately poked me with it afterwards?
Please advise.
I am a teacher and we were using colored pipe cleaners for a craft project in our classroom. The pipe cleaners have a sharp metal point at both ends, and are covered with fuzzy "yarn" i guess. One of my students jokingly poked me with the sharp metal part of a pipe cleaner. I am worried that he was poking other students in the classroom with the sharp metal part, then he poked me with it. I did not see any blood on my arm, and I did not see any blood on the pipe cleaner after I thoroughly inspected it. Later that night, I saw a small red dot on my arm, but it was not bleeding, it looked like a blood blister, and I scratched at it until it bled. Now I am worried that the metal piece broke my skin and he poked another student with it first who possibly has HIV.
I am very worried about this situation, and I would like to know if there is ANY chance that I could contract HIV if the kid poked a student with HIV, then immediately poked me with it afterwards?
Please advise.
Best Answer
I have said again and again you did not have a risk.
You made the statement of, "OK, no "what if"'s then, this is specific. In the actual, factual, situation described in the first post, there is ZERO risk?"
So I was just pointing out that it is still a "what if"
And again i asked other questions because your simple question seems very anxiety related.
You made the statement of, "OK, no "what if"'s then, this is specific. In the actual, factual, situation described in the first post, there is ZERO risk?"
So I was just pointing out that it is still a "what if"
And again i asked other questions because your simple question seems very anxiety related.
Vance, your comments seem conflicting. On the one hand, you say no risk, on the other hand, you tell me that the only fact I have is that he poked me with the pipe cleaner. If the only information I have is that he poked me, then there are other variables to consider. You are making it seem like these other variables can change the risk factor. If the other variables cannot change the risk factor, then why do you not just come out and say "there is zero risk, no matter what the other variables were, i.e. if he poked someone else, if it pierced my skin, if the pipe cleaner had a small amount of blood on it"
Thank you nursegirl. It is much more reassuring to hear the reasons why it is not a risk, then to hear people say, "im not playing this game". This is not a game to the people on this site. A simple, concise, direct answer is best. Much respect!!!
As I have stated and as nursegirl has stated...no risk.
And it is still "what if", only fact you have is that he poked you with a pipe cleaner.
And it is still "what if", only fact you have is that he poked you with a pipe cleaner.
OK, no "what if"'s then, this is specific. In the actual, factual, situation described in the first post, there is ZERO risk?
Not playing the "what if" game and that is what this is.
HIV is transmitted by:
Unprotected vaginal and/or anal sex
Mother to unborn/nursing baby
IV drugs
HIV is transmitted by:
Unprotected vaginal and/or anal sex
Mother to unborn/nursing baby
IV drugs
So, just to clarify: A person gets poked with a piece of sharp metal seconds after a person with HIV was poked with it. There is NO risk?
12-15 years old. Does it matter how old they are? I read what you wrote, but the questions you are asking me lead me to believe that you believe that there is SOME risk.
America, California. I do not know the HIV status of any of my students. Does that matter? Lets assume he poked a student who is HIV+, then poked me with it right after. Is there ANY risk of infection there?
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PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
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Can you get HIV from casual contact, like hugging?
Frequency of HIV testing depends on your risk.
Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) may help prevent HIV infection.
That's correct. It's not a risk...one because the virus doesn't survive outside of the body, two because you would have to have been severely injured with a large deep wound to allow for a point of entry, and three, because in order for a "blood to blood" situation to be a risk, your deep wound would have to come in contact with a large amount of infectious blood.
That being said, I would bet my bank acct not ONE kid in your class (and probably your whole school) has HIV. HIV is much rarer than people think, compared to the total population.
You have nothing at all to worry about.