Aa
hep c risk with one-time razor cut?
Dear Drs. - I am trying to stay calm but have no idea where I stand with this. I accidentally used a friend's razor to shave my face. I did about 3 strokes (2 with the direction of growth and 1 against) and then realized it was not my razor and stopped; the final stroke produced about a 5mm cut on my upper lip. I estimate the razor had not been used for about 36 hours or more. I do not know my friend to have hep c or other diseases, but he is a healthcare worker who has had one or two needle stick incidents; i understand his facility has procedures wherein he had to be tested for everything under the sun after these occurrences. I'm sure you're familiar with such regulations. I am not. He also had sex with a girl on her period earlier this year. I had my first physical in a while just days before this incident and was clear of hep a, b and c at that time. I know all the guidelines, cdc, etc says IDU and transfusions are the main cause of hep c. But then all those sources seem to mention toothbrushes and especially razors. I am having a hard time figuring out how serious this is. How long do I have to wait to be tested?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Contrary to popular perceptions, HCV is not generally sexually transmitted -- and your question doesn't concern sexual transmission. So this question is somewhat off topic for the STD forum.
In theory, shared razors can increase the risk of transmission of any blood-borne infection, like hepatitis B and C and HIV, and standard prevention advice is that people should avoid sharing razors with persons they know to be infected. However, shared razors, toothbrushes, etc, and other methods of potential exposure to blood or body secretions, occur all the time in households -- and yet household contacts never catch those infections, assuming they aren't having sex (for HIV and hep B) or sharing injection equipment (for HCV) with the infected person.
Having sex with women while they are menstruating does not significant increase the risk of sexual transmission of any of these infections; that comment about your friend is irrelevant. That he is a health care worker increases his chance of having one or more of these infections, but almost certainly he would know if he had one of them. (By the way, there are no "regulations" (i.e., laws) about testing health workers after possible blood exposures -- just recommendations by experts and individual institutions' policies.)
Finally, even if your friend is infected, the chance of transmission from any sharp instrument 36 hours later, even if there was visible blood on the razor, is zero.
Bottom line: No risk, no need for testing. Don't worry about it.
Since this is off topic for the forum, let's not have an ongoing discussion. There are other sources for discussion of hepatitis and transmission of other blood-borne viruses.
Regards-- HHH, MD
In theory, shared razors can increase the risk of transmission of any blood-borne infection, like hepatitis B and C and HIV, and standard prevention advice is that people should avoid sharing razors with persons they know to be infected. However, shared razors, toothbrushes, etc, and other methods of potential exposure to blood or body secretions, occur all the time in households -- and yet household contacts never catch those infections, assuming they aren't having sex (for HIV and hep B) or sharing injection equipment (for HCV) with the infected person.
Having sex with women while they are menstruating does not significant increase the risk of sexual transmission of any of these infections; that comment about your friend is irrelevant. That he is a health care worker increases his chance of having one or more of these infections, but almost certainly he would know if he had one of them. (By the way, there are no "regulations" (i.e., laws) about testing health workers after possible blood exposures -- just recommendations by experts and individual institutions' policies.)
Finally, even if your friend is infected, the chance of transmission from any sharp instrument 36 hours later, even if there was visible blood on the razor, is zero.
Bottom line: No risk, no need for testing. Don't worry about it.
Since this is off topic for the forum, let's not have an ongoing discussion. There are other sources for discussion of hepatitis and transmission of other blood-borne viruses.
Regards-- HHH, MD
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
It's not a problem -- don't feel bad. We take lots of questions about nonsexual HIV transmisison. It's just not the main focus of this and the HIV prevention forum.
Thank you for your response to my miscategorized question. I apologize - I definitely had such misperceptions after over reading.
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
