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Non sexual exposures
Hello and thanks for taking the time to read this post. I'm writing this to cover some questions I have, or rather theories I have. First off, I'm not looking for arguments or narrow minded "shut downs", but would like to start an honest, open discussion. I have conducted a lot of research on communicable diseases throughout my adult life. Just about every internet search has led me back to this site, so I figured I would start my quest here.
I know what transmission routes/methods are repeated on here, but can't seem to agree that they are final or all inclusive. The reason I have these doubts are because: Since I started my professional career as an EMT/Firefighter (7 years) now currently in Law Enforcement (past 12 years), I have received hours upon hours of communicable disease training. I know most people in the US today are very educated on the sexual risks, unprotected anal or vaginal sex, as well as intravenous needle sharing. I just can't help but think of all the "what if" scenarios because I have been in a few. Prior to my marriage, I can count on one hand each sexual experience I have had, all of which were protected.
HIV has been around for ~30 years now, in the 1990's studies were conducted on transmission routes. Since that time, no real studies seem to have been conducted, although I know routes of transmission are constantly monitored at testing sites. It just seems that whenever a new route of transmission is claimed, the experts are quick to become cynical and suggest unreported sexual behavior or needle sharing. I think as more and more people are living with HIV due to medical advancements, there are bound to be new methods of transmission based on the odds.
I know the HIV cells are damaged rapidly when outside the body, but have also read about new studies stating it can live outside the body for days. My local health department representative answered that question years ago by advising it is safe to say when the bodily fluid is dry it is no longer able to infect. I have also learned that HIV is particular to which cells it can/will/requires to infect. So where am I going with this? Keep reading....
-A few years ago my beat partner and I broke up a drunken brawl. One of the subjects was bleeding from his nose and mouth profusely. Because of his intoxication and agitation from the fight, he spit blood at us while we were interviewing him. I ended up with blood in my face as did my partner. We immediately increased our distance and told him to calm down. I know blood splash exposure in the eyes and mouth are a risk, but on sites like this, they basically say they aren't when stating oral sex for the performing partner is not a risk (infectious fluids in the mouth).
-I have been married for 15 years to the same woman and to my knowledge it has been monogamous (LOL). In that time we have both been tested for various routine reasons (her pregnancies, life insurance, pre-employment, etc.) My last negative test was about 7 years ago. About 5 or 6 years ago I finally agreed to allow my wife to get more tattoos. I was always concerned with the risk of communicable diseases from tattoos, but after researching it learned that it was pretty safe. The catch is, she went to a friend of a friend who does it as a hobby from her house. This person is not regulated by any organization and to my knowledge has not received any training in the safe practice of administering tattoos. My wife did provide her own needles but not ink. The concern would be the reuse of ink between clients. ***Remember, it takes drying of the blood to render HIV unable to infect, ink is not dry.***
-My wife is also artistically talented, so within the same timeframe of her receiving these tattoos, she acquired her own tattoo gun and began administering tattoos to friends. While tattooing a friend, she accidentally stuck herself with the needle. She told me the needle was brand new and had not pierced his skin yet, ***BUT, it left her with a permanent ink spot on her forearm. If it was a new needle and had not been used yet, it would not have had ink on it. I am confident that she told me that to not worry me. What really got me thinking was a few weeks ago my wife and I were talking about HIV after something in the news brought it up. She asked me if HIV caused AIDS. This blew me away that she did not know that, causing me to think maybe she missed health class in high school!
-Years ago my wife and I were at a deli style sandwich shop. The employee cut her hand open on the meat slicer which left a good amount of blood on the machine. Another employee came to the counter from the back room to relieve the injured employee. She asked us what we would like, but nobody bothered to clean the meat slicer!!! I told her the meat slicer needed to be thoroughly cleaned, then we went somewhere else for lunch. This incident got me thinking about the possibility that this could happen at other restaurants and we would never know it. What are the risks of eating fresh blood from someone living with HIV?
-Mosquitos.... Those pesky mini vampires! I know that common science believes Mosquitos are not a viable means of HIV transmission and I know the reasons why. ***But, there lives a mosquito in the south west portion of the US which will bite one person, then immediately move on to another person or continue to bite the original person. I personally have these Mosquitos in my area and get bit by them frequently. This breed of mosquito is gaining local attention here because of a rare tropical virus which recently arrived in the area. The disease has a very long, difficult to pronounce name, but it translates to bent over something or other. I guess it induces spasms of vomiting or something. The concern is that with our nasty repetitively biting breed of mosquito coupled with the arrival of this nasty new to the area virus, it will make for a bad combination. After reading the press releases on this combo, it appears the virus is not stored in the mosquito like west nile or malaria, but it is transmitted by biting one person, then another right after. Why would this not transmit other blood borne viruses like HIV or hepatitis?
-Also, what about the use of a disposable dental picks, the tooth pick/dental floss combo tool, between the use of two people? Obviously the first user would need to be living with HIV to infect the second user. If the first user broke skin between teeth in the gums, leaving blood on the thread, then the second user also broke skin, wouldn't this also be a possible route of exposure?
-There have been many times when my hands have come into contact with infectious bodily fluids while handcuffing or subduing suspects. Most of these suspects were illicit drug users. The skin on my hands are not always in the best condition from outdoor activities, chapped skin, woodworking, etc. In law enforcement we don't always have the luxury of donning personal protective equipment like EMS/fire does.
If you made it this far through my essay, thank you for your patience.
I know what transmission routes/methods are repeated on here, but can't seem to agree that they are final or all inclusive. The reason I have these doubts are because: Since I started my professional career as an EMT/Firefighter (7 years) now currently in Law Enforcement (past 12 years), I have received hours upon hours of communicable disease training. I know most people in the US today are very educated on the sexual risks, unprotected anal or vaginal sex, as well as intravenous needle sharing. I just can't help but think of all the "what if" scenarios because I have been in a few. Prior to my marriage, I can count on one hand each sexual experience I have had, all of which were protected.
HIV has been around for ~30 years now, in the 1990's studies were conducted on transmission routes. Since that time, no real studies seem to have been conducted, although I know routes of transmission are constantly monitored at testing sites. It just seems that whenever a new route of transmission is claimed, the experts are quick to become cynical and suggest unreported sexual behavior or needle sharing. I think as more and more people are living with HIV due to medical advancements, there are bound to be new methods of transmission based on the odds.
I know the HIV cells are damaged rapidly when outside the body, but have also read about new studies stating it can live outside the body for days. My local health department representative answered that question years ago by advising it is safe to say when the bodily fluid is dry it is no longer able to infect. I have also learned that HIV is particular to which cells it can/will/requires to infect. So where am I going with this? Keep reading....
-A few years ago my beat partner and I broke up a drunken brawl. One of the subjects was bleeding from his nose and mouth profusely. Because of his intoxication and agitation from the fight, he spit blood at us while we were interviewing him. I ended up with blood in my face as did my partner. We immediately increased our distance and told him to calm down. I know blood splash exposure in the eyes and mouth are a risk, but on sites like this, they basically say they aren't when stating oral sex for the performing partner is not a risk (infectious fluids in the mouth).
-I have been married for 15 years to the same woman and to my knowledge it has been monogamous (LOL). In that time we have both been tested for various routine reasons (her pregnancies, life insurance, pre-employment, etc.) My last negative test was about 7 years ago. About 5 or 6 years ago I finally agreed to allow my wife to get more tattoos. I was always concerned with the risk of communicable diseases from tattoos, but after researching it learned that it was pretty safe. The catch is, she went to a friend of a friend who does it as a hobby from her house. This person is not regulated by any organization and to my knowledge has not received any training in the safe practice of administering tattoos. My wife did provide her own needles but not ink. The concern would be the reuse of ink between clients. ***Remember, it takes drying of the blood to render HIV unable to infect, ink is not dry.***
-My wife is also artistically talented, so within the same timeframe of her receiving these tattoos, she acquired her own tattoo gun and began administering tattoos to friends. While tattooing a friend, she accidentally stuck herself with the needle. She told me the needle was brand new and had not pierced his skin yet, ***BUT, it left her with a permanent ink spot on her forearm. If it was a new needle and had not been used yet, it would not have had ink on it. I am confident that she told me that to not worry me. What really got me thinking was a few weeks ago my wife and I were talking about HIV after something in the news brought it up. She asked me if HIV caused AIDS. This blew me away that she did not know that, causing me to think maybe she missed health class in high school!
-Years ago my wife and I were at a deli style sandwich shop. The employee cut her hand open on the meat slicer which left a good amount of blood on the machine. Another employee came to the counter from the back room to relieve the injured employee. She asked us what we would like, but nobody bothered to clean the meat slicer!!! I told her the meat slicer needed to be thoroughly cleaned, then we went somewhere else for lunch. This incident got me thinking about the possibility that this could happen at other restaurants and we would never know it. What are the risks of eating fresh blood from someone living with HIV?
-Mosquitos.... Those pesky mini vampires! I know that common science believes Mosquitos are not a viable means of HIV transmission and I know the reasons why. ***But, there lives a mosquito in the south west portion of the US which will bite one person, then immediately move on to another person or continue to bite the original person. I personally have these Mosquitos in my area and get bit by them frequently. This breed of mosquito is gaining local attention here because of a rare tropical virus which recently arrived in the area. The disease has a very long, difficult to pronounce name, but it translates to bent over something or other. I guess it induces spasms of vomiting or something. The concern is that with our nasty repetitively biting breed of mosquito coupled with the arrival of this nasty new to the area virus, it will make for a bad combination. After reading the press releases on this combo, it appears the virus is not stored in the mosquito like west nile or malaria, but it is transmitted by biting one person, then another right after. Why would this not transmit other blood borne viruses like HIV or hepatitis?
-Also, what about the use of a disposable dental picks, the tooth pick/dental floss combo tool, between the use of two people? Obviously the first user would need to be living with HIV to infect the second user. If the first user broke skin between teeth in the gums, leaving blood on the thread, then the second user also broke skin, wouldn't this also be a possible route of exposure?
-There have been many times when my hands have come into contact with infectious bodily fluids while handcuffing or subduing suspects. Most of these suspects were illicit drug users. The skin on my hands are not always in the best condition from outdoor activities, chapped skin, woodworking, etc. In law enforcement we don't always have the luxury of donning personal protective equipment like EMS/fire does.
If you made it this far through my essay, thank you for your patience.
Vance, thanks for the reply. In researching HIV transmission statistics for California, it appears that heterosexual infection occurs about the same rate as other/unknown. This would lead one to wonder about non sexual or IV needle exposures. That is my point, sir.
Do you have a point with this or did you just want to get non-exposures off your chest?
I can't find a way to edit my original post, but I wanted to add the following. I would not consider myself to have HIV anxiety, just an awareness or respect for it. Kind of like rattlesnakes. I know the odds of getting bit by a rattlesnake are low, but when I'm in rattlesnake country I am very vigilant. I don't fear them but I respect them and don't allow that awareness/respect of them keep me from my outdoor activities. Same concept with all communicable diseases, including HIV.
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