Blood from social contact /kiss

[onchest1]

Doctor, yesterday at a dinner party I kissed a gay man hello on his cheek on arrival. his status is unknown to me. The contact was quick but moments later I realised he had beads of fresh blood on his face from shaving. I promptly went to the bathroom and checked my face. The end of my nose was smeared with blood. I wiped this off with tissue paper and then washed my mouth and face. My skin was intact as far as I could see. Could you please let me know whether I should be worried about this? One would think this sort of thing must happen a lot but the sight of his blood on my nose has terrified me and the idea of waiting 3 months is awful. Is this something  that would warrant pep? i am afraid some blood could have gone up my nose for example, but i did not see any sign of that. I would really value your opinion. Many thanks

[Edward W Hook, MD]

You do not even know that this person has HIV.  He probably does not.  Even if he does however, HIV is not spread by kissing of any sort and certainly not from kissing someone on the check who had cut himself shaving.  Even if you contacted his blood this way, still no risk.  You have no reason to worry and no reason to even seek testing.  EWH

[Edward W Hook, MD]

No, this does not change my opinion or advice.  Further, if I had ever seen someone become infected in this way, I would not have said this was a no risk event.  EWH

[onchest1]

thank you. there was quite a lot of blood on his face (i saw too late) but I assume this does not change your view. I assume also that the risk of it going up my nose and causing infection that way is almost non existent? Do you know if anyone has been infected in the way I have described above?