Risk from ENT clinic?

[BPAfree]

Hi there,

In early March, I saw an ENT doctor for some hearing problems in one ear. During his diagnosis, he helped clear out some impacted earwax with an ear pick, or curette as it is properly called. While doing so he must have put a little too much pressure on the instrument and I could feel a sharp pain in my ear canal. I didn't notice any visible blood nor did I feel any residual pain afterwards, but having just read about HIV outside the clinic my anxiety kicked in and I started to worry about possibly getting infected from the ear pick/curette.

1) If for argument's sake the ear pick was contaminated with HIV+ blood from an earlier patient, what are the chances of an infection?

2) Having said that, I've certainly read about HIV not being transmittable through inanimate objects. What makes syringes an exception then?

[Teak]

HIV is unable to reproduce outside its living host (unlike many bacteria or fungi, which may do so under suitable conditions), except under laboratory conditions; therefore, it does not spread or maintain infectiousness outside its host.

[BPAfree]

Thanks Teak. What about my question on syringes? What makes them exceptional in that it is a transmission risk?

[Teak]

Not an HIV concern.