Worried Well - HIV/HCV

[worriedwell360]

Dear Doctors,

I am writing due to an accidental exposure that occured to me twice in the matter of a couple of days.

Firstly, I am in a long term and stable relationship with a partner who does not suffer from STDs.

My main concern is Hep C and HIV, in regards  to incidental contact, such as touching a toilet seat with blood on it accidently with a hand with a cut on it, or a similar situation with Semen.

On two different days, I touched a toilet seat and another bathroom amenity with a finger that had a cut on it (part of my nail is missing and i have a cut because of this which is sore when alcohol, etc is put on it, thus it is open??).

On these two days i touched:
1. Fresh blood;
2. Fresh semen (what looked like semen).

I say fresh, because both substances were still wet and went onto my finger with the cut on it (where the cut is)...

I have no idea of the identity of the person / people? Know idea if these people had any such disease.

I am located in Australia, and whilst I don't think Australia has a relatively high proportions of people infected with either disease, it is something that is causing me anxiety.

Can you please advise the relative risk of such an incidental/accidential exposure, whether there is need for future testing and provide more information on accidential/incidental exposure??

Thanks in advance.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Relax.  You cannot catch either HIV or HCV by touching an infected toilet seat, even with a cut on the hand.  They call them STDs because you have to have sex to transmit them.  (And HCV isn't known to be transmitted through semen anyway, and isn't even considered an STD.)

Australia's network of STD clinics, called Sexual Health Centres, is the best in the world.  If you need more reassurance, call or visit your nearest SHC.  Don't bother to re-post in the HIV forum.  It will be a waste of $15.00, since the reply will be the same.  And no further "yes but" or "what if" questions on this forum either.  This is too low risk to warrant your energies or mine.

HHH, MD

[worriedwell360]

Please respond, i am having very much anxiety.

[worriedwell360]

My apologies, this was accidently posted to the STD forum, when it probably should have been posted at the HIV forum.... I did mean to post it to the HIV forum, but as i am dealing with HCV, as well, now I think about it... I am unsure which forum is more appropriate.

If you think it is appropriate please move this question to a more appropriate forum.

Thanks,

Worriedwell360