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Vomit, possible blood
Hi Dr -
Over the weekend I was out with some friends and a friend of a friend got drunk and also at the same time had somewhat of a breakdown of her ex. So I was comforting her out of the bar and she was on the sidewalk crying and then started to vomit. I was holding her hair back etc...now I am rather paranoid person and I did not have any cuts on my hands as I looked the next day and I do not recall having any of her vomit on my hands. I am just wondering if her vomit did get on my hand, is there any risk for HIV transmission? I have read that vomit doesnt transmit unless there is visible blood and clearly i did not stick my hand in it. I do bite my nails and the skin around my nails, nothing was actively bleeding but would biting around my nails and removing some skin perhaps earlier that day be an opening that could warrant transmission? Thank you very much.
Over the weekend I was out with some friends and a friend of a friend got drunk and also at the same time had somewhat of a breakdown of her ex. So I was comforting her out of the bar and she was on the sidewalk crying and then started to vomit. I was holding her hair back etc...now I am rather paranoid person and I did not have any cuts on my hands as I looked the next day and I do not recall having any of her vomit on my hands. I am just wondering if her vomit did get on my hand, is there any risk for HIV transmission? I have read that vomit doesnt transmit unless there is visible blood and clearly i did not stick my hand in it. I do bite my nails and the skin around my nails, nothing was actively bleeding but would biting around my nails and removing some skin perhaps earlier that day be an opening that could warrant transmission? Thank you very much.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Correct. No risk even in this very unlikely scenario.
Great, thank you doctor! I know you were pointing out all of the reasons why transmission would not result but let's just say she does have HIV and her vomit did get on my hand, then transmission would still need an entry point and my intact skin (even with the biting of my nails and surrounding skin - i certainly did not have an actively bleeding cut of any kind) would have been a barrier to infection, right? Thank you again.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum and thanks for your question. I'll try to help.
To my knowledge there are no data on HIV infectiousness of stomach contents, but I would guess no transmission would occur; stomach acid and digestive enzymes undoubtedly kill the virus. I would expect this to also be the case if blood were present. Cuts on the hands etc would make no difference. Except for fresh, deep, actively bleeding cuts, there is probably no transmission risk on exposure to HIV infected blood or body fluids.
The other question, of course, is whether your friend is likely to have HIV. If she is not in a classic high risk group (commercial sex worker, injection drug user, immigrant from Africa, etc) then you can safely assume she doesn't have it.
Finally, xxposure to blood or body secretions in the environment is one of those theoretical risks that have little basis in reality. There are about 60,000 new cases of HIV every year in the US, and I'll bet not a single one of them in the past 10 years has resulted from environmental exposure to blood.
For those reasons, you shouldn't be at all worried about HIV (or other blood borne infections) in this situation. All is well, you don't need testing, and can safely continue your current sexual relationship(s) without fear of transmitting anything to your partner(s).
Best regards-- HHH, MD
To my knowledge there are no data on HIV infectiousness of stomach contents, but I would guess no transmission would occur; stomach acid and digestive enzymes undoubtedly kill the virus. I would expect this to also be the case if blood were present. Cuts on the hands etc would make no difference. Except for fresh, deep, actively bleeding cuts, there is probably no transmission risk on exposure to HIV infected blood or body fluids.
The other question, of course, is whether your friend is likely to have HIV. If she is not in a classic high risk group (commercial sex worker, injection drug user, immigrant from Africa, etc) then you can safely assume she doesn't have it.
Finally, xxposure to blood or body secretions in the environment is one of those theoretical risks that have little basis in reality. There are about 60,000 new cases of HIV every year in the US, and I'll bet not a single one of them in the past 10 years has resulted from environmental exposure to blood.
For those reasons, you shouldn't be at all worried about HIV (or other blood borne infections) in this situation. All is well, you don't need testing, and can safely continue your current sexual relationship(s) without fear of transmitting anything to your partner(s).
Best regards-- HHH, MD
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