Cut at work

[GCorrea76]

Hello Doctors:

While at work today a co-worker wanted to show me his new pocket knife. He tossed it to me. The knife was partially open and it cut my pointer finger. I'm worried I may get hiv or another blood borne illness.

The forums seem to indicate that this shouldn't be a risk. But two factors worry me. First, I know my co-worker is a homosexual {he tells me of his sexual adventures from time to time} and thus, is at a higher risk of HIV. Second,  when he was explaining to me how sharp the knife was, he told me he cut himself on his thumb earlier.

A few more details: The cut was about 1/2 inch long. My cut was not gushing blood but it did bleed. I washed the cut, put some sanitizer on it, applied pressure until the bleeding stopped, then put a bandaid on it.

Am I at risk? If so, what should I do?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Oh please.  Let's not play games.  This was not a risky event (I will not call it an exposure and feed your unjustified paranoia further).  If you want to get tested, do so.  It will prove that you did not get HIV from the event you describe.  EWH

p.s.  I'm a bit suprised to find this degree of paranoia in a person who thinks its OK to throw knives back and forth.  EWH

[GCorrea76]

Dr Hook:

Despite your reassurance I am still worried. Worst case scenario, he cut himself just a minute or two before I did: what would my risk me? Would it warrant testing? Thanks again.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

If his cut occurred long enough before yours to scab over, you can be sure that there was no living HIV on the blade.  EWH

[GCorrea76]

Dr Hook:

Thanks for such a prompt reply. Your response was VERY reassuring but one thing is still nagging me: I'm not sure when my co-worker cut himself (I wont see him for several days so I can't ask). Does this matter to your risk assessment?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

This exposure should not have put you at risk for HIV.  It sounds as though your co-worker had cut himself some time ago and if so, living HIV would no longer be on his knife blade, even if he were HIV infected (which is unlikely).  HIV dies very quickly on exposure to air, drying, environmental temperatures, etc.  Thus your cut was an isolated piece of bad luck, brought on by unwise decisions by you and your co-worker to toss knives around (please don't do this, it's really a dumb thing to do).  You do not need testing related to the events you describe.  I suspect you two do need a lesson or two about knife safety however.   EWH

[GCorrea76]

To clarify:

I don't know when my co-worker cut himself. But he showed me his thumb and the cut was scabbed over. It wasn't dripping blood or anything.

And it was my cut, not my co-workers that was 1/2 inch long and not gushing blood.