Hand to hand exposure?

[ctconcern]

This question seems to have been addressed elsewhere.  Like other posters, however, anxiety dictated that I ask my particular question.  Recently I had protected oral sex with a prostitute.  During the course of this I was rubbing the outside of her genitals with my hand.  At some point she got wet.  After she finished performing oral sex I removed the condom using a wet wipe.  My main concern is that I had a cut on my other hand (about 1-2 day old) from a torn cuticle.  At the time it was quite red and partially open, but hadn't bleed since it first happened.  Had the hand with her vaginal secretions touch this, would that have posed a risk?  I did apply hand sanitizer and rubbed both hands together.  I noticed the hand sanitizer stinged the finger with the cut.  Would this have compromised the protective barrier?  This probably sound like over analyzing and I am sure it is.  Just looking for peace of mind.  Thanks.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome t our Forum.  You are correct, this is a question that we encounter rather frequently and I am confident that after reading this reply if you wish to search our site for other, similar answers you will find many from both me and from Dr. Handsfield.  HIV is more difficult to transmit than is commonly assumed and the exposures that you describe did not put you at any meaningful risk for HIV. HIV is not transmitted by unprotected oral sex and your exposure was condom protected making in even more safe if such a thing is possible.  Similarly there are no instances in which HIV has been  shown to be transferred from one person to another though the transfer of genital secretions on another person’s hands or, for that matter, even through direct contact in the context of mutual masturbation.  The you had a recent cut on your hand does not change this in any way.  The stinging you experienced from application of the hand cleanser is due to the alcohol in the cleaner and does not mean that your cut was susceptible to infection.  

By way of background I would also point out that most commercial sex workers do not have HIV or other STDs and only a very small fractions of unprotected exposures to infected partners are even transmitted to others in the context of unprotected sexual activity which was not your situation.   Still more reason that you not be concerned.  

I urge you not to worry. The activities and exposure you describe did not put you are risk for HIV. there is no need for concern or for testing.  EWH

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Different hand sanitizers have different components however all are effective at killing most bacteria and viruses.  EWH

[ctconcern]

Thank you for the prompt reply.  Would the hand sanitizer I used killed any virus that might have been present?