Nail Scratch

[EMZ99]

I was the the store yesterday and the cashier scratched my finger with her nails causing me to bleed. When I looked at her hand I noticed that under her nails there appeared to be dirt or blood. If she was actively bleeding under the nail she scratched me with and got her fresh blood into the cut she gave me, is it possible to get HIV this way? Thank you for your time.

[Adrenagy]

Hi ,

A CSW scratched me on my hip, she scratched off the upper skin 1 mm thinkness and a minute traces of blood came on the towel very little while I was wiping it to see if there is blood or not. I coundt notice her finger for blood . Does this cause any STD namely HIV.

[Teak]

Move along, You never had an exposure and there is nothing further to discuss.

[veryworriedanxiety]

This article worries me as I do not see how this is different to someone having a possible cut on their hand or around their fingernail and then shaking hands and freakishly having the misfortune to cut you with their nail

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/HIV---Prevention/HIV-and-Friend/show/255407

I am sure a reassurance with explanation would reassure many other worried people as well as me. I am honestly not trying to upset you Teak as you are a 'God Send' to worried people but we just need some reassurance to be able to move on.

[veryworriedanxiety]

Thank you for your reply Teak. To clarify are you saying a fingernail cutting into my hand and causing a bleed when shaking hands is not actually a direct route to my blood stream like when you talk about injecting needles eg: it is impossible for a handshake even if the other person accidently stabs you with their fingernail causing a bleed that is still scabbed over 10 days after the event - that it can not cause what you refer to as 'direct route into the blood stream'?? even if the other person had a small cut on his hand or under his nail at the same time.

In other words with you knowing he caused my hand to bleed and I did not check whether he had a cut on his hand in or around the offending fingernail that 100 per cent sure I have nothing to worry about and can forgot it.

[Teak]

No.

[veryworriedanxiety]

If the cut is deep enough to cause bleeding is that then not a direct route into the blood stream? Forgive me if I am wrong but is the blood stream not just that i.e if you bleed then the item/object eg the fingernail has penetrated direct into your blood stream? Please explain as this is very concerning for me after being scratched when shaking hands and it caused me to bleed quite a bit from my finger.

[Teak]

No you cannot contract HIV from Scratch.

[EMZ99]

So I am assuming you think this is not a way I can get HIV and the virus would have been inactive?

[Teak]

HIV doesn't die is was never alive. It is either active or inactive.

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

[EMZ99]

I know that HIV dies very quickly in the enviornment, but if she was actively bleeding when she cut me could that fresh blood be infectious?

[worriedworry]

No. HIV dies almost the minute it leaves the body. Thats why its only transmitted through sex or needles. To get it from blood would take a hospital setting or some kind of traumatic accident, like a gunshot, stabbing or car accident.

[EMZ99]

Thank you. The scratch was pretty deep, it was more of a cut. Does that make a difference in your assessment.

[joggen]

No. HIV transmission requires direct inoculation deep into tissue. Superficial scratches are not a risk.