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Infection Risk
Hi Doctors,
I am probably overreacting, but had a question about transmission of bloodborne diseases such as HIV, HCV and HBV. I recently shook hands with a woman who moved into our neighborhood. I had several small paper cuts on my fingers and a few cuticle cuts as well. We have come to learn that this woman is a drug addict and have noticed that she has pockmarks all over her face and seems to pick at them all the time. Since she is a drug addict, I worry that she could have a bloodborne disease. I am concerned that she may have had blood or bodily fluids from these pockmarks on her hands when I shook it. Could HIV, HBV or HCV be transmitted in this way since I had the small cuts on my fingers? I've read that HCV, especially would survive in the environment the longest. Would I need to be tested? I have 3 small children and am worried that I could have contracted something from this woman. I am typically a worrier so I'm hoping that I am just being paranoid. Thank you so much for your help.
I am probably overreacting, but had a question about transmission of bloodborne diseases such as HIV, HCV and HBV. I recently shook hands with a woman who moved into our neighborhood. I had several small paper cuts on my fingers and a few cuticle cuts as well. We have come to learn that this woman is a drug addict and have noticed that she has pockmarks all over her face and seems to pick at them all the time. Since she is a drug addict, I worry that she could have a bloodborne disease. I am concerned that she may have had blood or bodily fluids from these pockmarks on her hands when I shook it. Could HIV, HBV or HCV be transmitted in this way since I had the small cuts on my fingers? I've read that HCV, especially would survive in the environment the longest. Would I need to be tested? I have 3 small children and am worried that I could have contracted something from this woman. I am typically a worrier so I'm hoping that I am just being paranoid. Thank you so much for your help.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Injuries with contaminated sharp instruments are routinely listed as HIV transmission risks because of the theoretical possibilty, plus the fact that such transmissions have occurred in health care providers. However, health care transmission has only occurred with deep cuts or injuries that involved visible blood of an infected patient. There are no actual known cases of such transmission occurring in households by razors, toothbrushes, etc.
Thank you so much for your reply. Very quick and to the point. I'm glad to hear that we are not at risk. I became concerned enough to post because I've read that bloodborne diseases can be spread through fingernail clippers, razors and toothbrushes even if there is no visible blood on them. How is that possible given it wouldn't be a large amount of virus?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum.
These viruses are never transmitted by the sort of contact you describe. If they were, then HIV/AIDS, and hepatitis B and C, would not be classified as sexually and blood transmitted. You are not at any risk whatsoever from any personal contact with your new neighbor, assuming you don't have sex or share injection equipment with her. And by the way, it doesn't matter how long the viruses can survive in the environment; survival per se is not the main determinant of transmission. The reason these viruses are not easily transmissible is that large amounts of virus have to have direct access to cells inside another person's body, and there isn't enough of it in superficial cuts or in the environment to allow that to happen.
So neither you nor your kids are at risk. Don't worry about it.
Regards-- HHH, MD
These viruses are never transmitted by the sort of contact you describe. If they were, then HIV/AIDS, and hepatitis B and C, would not be classified as sexually and blood transmitted. You are not at any risk whatsoever from any personal contact with your new neighbor, assuming you don't have sex or share injection equipment with her. And by the way, it doesn't matter how long the viruses can survive in the environment; survival per se is not the main determinant of transmission. The reason these viruses are not easily transmissible is that large amounts of virus have to have direct access to cells inside another person's body, and there isn't enough of it in superficial cuts or in the environment to allow that to happen.
So neither you nor your kids are at risk. Don't worry about it.
Regards-- HHH, MD
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