Am I at RISK

[Tinnerm11]

Dear Doc,

First off my cousin has been with a lot of women unprotected,
I need to know if I have a risk of HIV infection and should I be tested before I sleep with my wife again?  My cousin masturbated using my computer for a porn source, I then typed on my key board as I was picking a few big scabs on my hand the scabs were bleeding. I am not sure if there was fluid on the keys, mouse or on my hands/fingers but was not looking for it at that time. Do I have a Risk? He came on the floor but was not sure if it got on his hand and then on the keys and then I touched it. Please give me your thoughts

Also if not a risk please explain why web sites state you will be infected if you get it on an open cut/sore.  What would you do if you were me?

Thanks

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Still no risk from picking at scabs.  No one has EVER gotten HIVin a manner even vaguely similar to the situation you describe.  You will not be the first.  No risk from the situation you describe.  EWH

[Tinnerm11]

He said he has no idea and wont get tested.

[Tinnerm11]

Doc,

Not a "What if" just need to clear up something fast and I will not re-post.  You said that sores start to heal as soon as they happen I understand that, But what about picking it open with the fluid on my finger until it bleeds? Is that still a no risk?  

[Edward W Hook, MD]

There is no risk for HIV from the situation you describe, even if some of your cousin's genital secretions did get on your computer keyboard.  Here are the reasons why:

1.  It is unlikely that you cousin has HIV.  If you are in the U.S. and he does not use IV drugs or have sex with other men, his risk of infection is less than 1 in 10,000.  Why not ask him?
2.  HIV does not live and is not transmitted from inanimate objects (like computer keyboards). This virus is susceptible to drying and dies quickly  at air temperature.  
3.  Your scrapes and cuts are not a way for the virus to get into your body , even if he did have infection and even if there were secretions on your computer.  We get questions almost daily from person with questions about their risk of HIV due to possible exposures at a time when they have small cuts, sores, or scrapes exposed to genital or other theoretically infected bodily fluids.  The answer to your question will be the same as the answers to prior similar concerns- the presence of a open sore due to a cut or trauma does not increase your risk, particularly if it has been present long enough to begin to heal (this occurs almost immediately after the cut/sore occurs).  There is about a 3-fold increased risk for HIV acquisition when persons have active sores due to herpes or syphilis but not from other sores.  The difference is that the sores of the STDs mentioned have CD4 lymphocytes present in the sores working to fight the infection that is present.  These CD4 cells are the target cells for HIV as well as "infection fighters".  In contrast cuts and other non-infectious sores do not have CD4 cells resent and therefore are not associated with increased risk. In fact, because the body starts healing almost immediately upon experiencing a cut or sore, there really is no increase in risk.


This will answer your question.  There is no reason for concern and no reason for testing related to the situation you describe.  Please no "but what if...." follow-up questions.  There is no risk.  EWH