HIV at the gym

[Varyz]

Hello everyone,

I am very concerned about HIV. I know the three main ways of transmission, but the fear to contract the virus persists.

Here is my situation: since several months, I often go to the gym to make my workout. Therefore, my hands and arms are often exposed to the machines that everyone uses there. And on my hands, sometimes, I have little blisters or cuts (which don't bleed, however); I had large sunburns on by arms (which were partially healed, because the skin was not red anymore and not sore at all).

I recently read that gyms were "dirty" places with lots of germs. However, I do not wash the handles of the machines, and I fear that some blood may have been on the machines, and then could have entered into my bloodstream through the skin defects that I described (repeated rubbing between the machines and my skin).

My questions are the following:
1° Is such an exposure possible concerning HIV? And why, because we coud have infected body fluid (blood on the machines recently used by owners)?
2° Have some cases like mine been reported as resulting in HIV transmission?
3° Are sunburns or bumps or minor scratches "open wounds" that could allow HIV to enter?

Thank you.

[Varyz]

Thank you very much, Teak!

Regards!

[Teak]

HIV is unable to reproduce outside its living host (unlike many bacteria or fungi, which may do so under suitable conditions), except under laboratory conditions; therefore, it does not spread or maintain infectiousness outside its host.

[Varyz]

Thank you very much, Teak, for your instantaneous answer!

Just one thing: can you explain me why there is no risk, because we coud have infected body fluid (blood on the machines recently used by owners)?

[Teak]

1. No
2. No
3. No

HIV is transmitted by;
Unprotected penetrative anal and/or vaginal sex
Sharing works with other IV drug abusers