Cut in toilet

[blueazzura]

Dear Dr

Yesterday, I was in the toilet of a plane and when i got out, I realized that I cut myself with the door handle. My finger was bleeding a little bit and the blood stop after 5 min.

Assuming there was contaminated blood on the door handle, am I at risk with HIV? Have you ever heard and seen case of someone getting infected like this?

Should I get tested?

Thanks for your help

[Edward W Hook, MD]

You can manufacure situations ins which there might be some miniscule risk for infection such as having an infected person dripping large amounts of blood on a door handle which then cut you within seconds of being deposited but such situations an examples of fanciful parnoia.  As I said before, the situation you described has no realistic risk of transmitting HIV to you.  Relax.  EWH

[blueazzura]

Thanks Dr

Last question: but if there was fresh contaminated blood on the door handle that cut, isn't possible for to get infected?

I know that hiv dies quickly, but it is possible that the blood was fresh enough.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Needles have hollow cores which blood can remain in.  Knives are solid- blood would not remain present.  EWH

[blueazzura]

Thanks dr

What is the different between the event I described and the real risk when drug user share needles. Needles are also inanimate object

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome back to the Forum.  Your initial assumption, that someone who had used the bathroom before you had HIV and would have transferred the virus to the door handle is almost certainly incorrect.  Even if it were, HIV is not transferred from person to person on inanimate objects such as door handles, toilet seats, etc.  That you cut your hand on the door handle does not change this.

I would not worry.  There is no need for testing related to this event.  

There are no reported cases of HIV being transmitted in this way.

I hope my comments are helpful.  EWH