question

[janez123]

Dear Doctor, few days ago I was in a supermarket inChina buying some groceries.  After I paid at the counter, around 20,30 seconds later while carrying a plastic bag I cut my leg pretty badly by the sharp edge of the plastic egg box. (i was wearing shorts and my cut is around 2-3 cm long, it did start to bleed but it wasnt dripping blood though). Since the cut was definitelly fresh and open is there any chance of HIV transmission if the egg box somehow had contaminated fluids on it. I was thinking if maybe the counter lady had some contaminated fluids on her hands (since she touches so many different things and money bills from many different people etc.) and then touched the egg box which cut me badly only around 30 secs later. Is there any chance of getting infected in this way?

[janez123]

Thank you Doctor.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Welcome to the forum.

On the community forum last year, you wrote "I have been having OCD about contracting HIV for few years now and i have been tested several times".  This question would appear to reflect the same irrational fears.  The possibility that there just happened to be HIV contaminated blood on the egg box is obviously zero or close to it.  Also, nobody in the world has ever caught HIV by being injured by a sharp object outside a hostpital or medical clinic.  You are not going to be the first.

Do your best to not worry about this event.  Do not get tested for HIV or any other blood borne infection.  If you have a regular sex partner, you can continue your normal relationship and sexual practices without putting your partner at risk.

Best wishes--  HHH, MD