Risk from potential blood from stripper

[Markofboston]

Hello Doctor
I am sorry to bother you, but I'm hoping you can answer some questions I have regarding possible HIV/Hep C/other STD infection. A couple of nights ago, I was on a friend's bachelor party and we ended up in a strip club. I had a lap dance with one of the ladies. After the lap dance, I saw her walking around and she had what looked like a cut on her foot. From a distance, I could not tell the extent of it / whether scabbed / bleeding etc. When I got home a couple of hours later, I did notice a couple of brownish marks on my jeans when I got home that night. Her feet did come into contact with me. My concerns are if I had later touched this possible blood on my jeans and rubbed my eye/itched inside my nose/eaten something with my hands that I could have put myself at risk of HIV/Hep C/STDs. I was worried about the possibilty of if she touched her foot on my penis (note jeans in between) that some blood may have touched the mucus membrane there putting me at risk.

I would appreciate any advice you can offer. I have not been able to stop thinking about this for the last few days. I think my fears have been escalated because I am not one to normally go to such venues and that a lot of the strippers there seemed to be on drugs of some kind or another (wrongly or rightly, in my mind, this suggests they're more likely to have Hep C etc.)

  

[Markofboston]

Thanks very much for your followup response Dr Hook. I appreciate you taking the time to respond to me again and for the reassurance. I will try to relax!

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Your anxiety is getting the best of you.  There are so many "ifs" to your question that I can't address them all.  Let me say however that hepatitis C (or B) is not transitted by this sort of transfer.  You need to relax. EWH

[Markofboston]

Hi Doctor Hook

Many thanks for your response - really appreciate it. Hoping you could please clarify a couple of things for me. Just trying to clear everything up in my mind as still pretty anxious about this (understatement!)

I do remember this stripper's foot (with the possible cut on it) touching my hand during this dance. If I had shortly thereafter rubbed my eye, itched my nose, gone to the toilet and touched the membrane of my penis etc. - prior to washing my hands, would this have put me at risk from Hep C? I understand that Hep C lasts for longer in the air so am a bit more worried about this than HIV. I know you said that once blood touches clothes, it is no risk, but my question is if her blood went directly onto my hand, I am assuming any virus would still be alive? I also remember reading in the newspaper that Hep C can be transmitted through the nose such as through people using cocaine (for the record - I am not a user of recreational drugs!) - hence my concern about itching the inside of my nose. Finally, would Hep B be a risk in this - I think I have been vaccinated, but not sure if up-to-date.

Again, apologies for being so anxious. As you noted, I know I should not generalise about strippers. This all took place in a pretty seedy area in Australia where I have been visiting that seems to be known for strippers being on a lot of bad things. Obviously, just wish I hadn't ended up there - but it's hard not to follow the flow on bachelor parties.

Thanks again for your help.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to our Forum.  I'll be glad to comment.  This was a no risk activity an there is no need for concern.  For starters, it is unlikely that the woman you mention had HIV, hepatitis C or any other STD- most people do not, even persons who use drugs or who are commercial sex workers.  
STDs, including HIV are not transmitted through clothing and hepatitis C is not an STD.  Even if some of the stripper's blood got onto your clothing, there would be no risk of any infection.  The bacteria and viruses that might cause infection do not pass through clothing- rather the microorganisms would stick to the material of the clothing.

Similarly, there is virtually no risk of infection with hepatitis C if some of the stripper's blood from the wound of her foot got onto your clothing.  The virus does not survive on clothing and is not transferred from one place to another or person's hands and fingers.  

I would urge you not to worry, this was not a risk event. There is no need for concern or for testing.  EWH