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risk of hepaitis C and other blood bourne illnesses
Three nights ago, while I was out of town, a friend borrowed my car to go pick up one of his friends who had just gotten injured. He was bleeding from the nose and lip while in my car. I am gravely concerened that there could be blood somewhere in my car and I have seen information on the web that says Hep C among other virus can live on surfaces (leather and porous) for up to weeks at a time. My concern is coming into contact with this blood and acquiring Hep C or something else through the many cuts I have on my hands from woodworking. So my questions are:
1. What is the risk of any virus (hep C, hep B, hiv) still living in the dried blood in my car?
2. What is the risk that I could touch any of this dried blood (steering wheel, stick shift, etc.) and aquiring one of these illnesses through the many cuts I have on my hands?
3. What cleaning product or solution can I use to ensure whatever viruses may be alive die?
Thank you very much, I realize that this is not a typical situation on this forum, but it has me gravely concerned none the less. If a doctor could address my questions it would be sincerely appreciated.
- Concerned
This discussion is related to How to prove.....
1. What is the risk of any virus (hep C, hep B, hiv) still living in the dried blood in my car?
2. What is the risk that I could touch any of this dried blood (steering wheel, stick shift, etc.) and aquiring one of these illnesses through the many cuts I have on my hands?
3. What cleaning product or solution can I use to ensure whatever viruses may be alive die?
Thank you very much, I realize that this is not a typical situation on this forum, but it has me gravely concerned none the less. If a doctor could address my questions it would be sincerely appreciated.
- Concerned
This discussion is related to How to prove.....
i know it is hard to believe but bleach does not kill HCV. Many studies have been done, especially with syringes and the bleach had little effect killing the virus.
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The CDC recommends the same solution that Bill recommended. It's 10% bleach in 90% water. Also correct is that the virus only can live in ideal environments from 16 hours to 4 days. HIV dies in the air almost immediately. Your risk is pretty much nil.
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The CDC recommends the same solution that Bill recommended. It's 10% bleach in 90% water. Also correct is that the virus only can live in ideal environments from 16 hours to 4 days. HIV dies in the air almost immediately. Your risk is pretty much nil.
That would be hypothetical blood so I suppose it could be anywhere or everywhere. If bleach will clean dialysis machines, well that's good enough for me!
jd
jd
Did I miss where exactly in the car the blood was, could he see it, or is he just worrying that there might be blood? If it is on the seat cover it with a towel, if it is on the steering wheel wear gloves, If it really bothers him that bad buy a different car and sell that one.
About the bleach, My friend (a RN) works in dialasys (sp?) and they clean the machines daily with a bleach mixture and once or twice a week a major clean / rinse. They are inspected and all records are verified by the inspector I hope that routine is sufficient.
Denise
About the bleach, My friend (a RN) works in dialasys (sp?) and they clean the machines daily with a bleach mixture and once or twice a week a major clean / rinse. They are inspected and all records are verified by the inspector I hope that routine is sufficient.
Denise
Bill makes a good point. Unless this young man cleans his car with bleach and then injects that bleach into a vein, I imagine that will be adequate. What bleach will do to leather car seats is another story.
I have no scientific basis for taking this position, yet I take it anyway.
jd
I have no scientific basis for taking this position, yet I take it anyway.
jd
I believe much of the controversy around this subject involves the competency of addicts to *properly* clean their syringes, cookers, and cottons. There are also limits as to how this can be studied in vivo. I’d sure think household bleach would be more than adequate for this task, though. Anyone else want to jump in with thoughts?
http://www.hcvets.com/data/transmission_methods/SterilantsDisinfectantsBleach.htm
Dinner KI, Tweed A, Paul A, Krajden M, Wong T, Murray WD; International Conference on AIDS (15th : 2004 : Bangkok, Thailand).
Int Conf AIDS. 2004 Jul 11-16; 15: abstract no. TuPeE5436.
Health Canada, Ottawa, Canada
“The current challenge of determining true infectivity limits our ability to evaluate appropriate dilution and exposure times. A 1:10 dilution of domestic bleach is commonly recommended for clean up of blood spills, and this concentration should be adequate to deal with HCV (and HBV) in blood18, although supportive evidence is lacking. However, blood remaining in a syringe poses different challenges than surface blood spills. The risks of transmission from an improperly cleaned and disinfected syringe are much higher than from traces of blood left on an outside surface. Studies have shown that undiluted bleach requires shorter exposure times than diluted bleach to be effective against HIV-1. It may also be more effective in the presence of residual blood in the syringe49. Presumably, the same would be true against HCV.”
Bill
http://www.hcvets.com/data/transmission_methods/SterilantsDisinfectantsBleach.htm
Dinner KI, Tweed A, Paul A, Krajden M, Wong T, Murray WD; International Conference on AIDS (15th : 2004 : Bangkok, Thailand).
Int Conf AIDS. 2004 Jul 11-16; 15: abstract no. TuPeE5436.
Health Canada, Ottawa, Canada
“The current challenge of determining true infectivity limits our ability to evaluate appropriate dilution and exposure times. A 1:10 dilution of domestic bleach is commonly recommended for clean up of blood spills, and this concentration should be adequate to deal with HCV (and HBV) in blood18, although supportive evidence is lacking. However, blood remaining in a syringe poses different challenges than surface blood spills. The risks of transmission from an improperly cleaned and disinfected syringe are much higher than from traces of blood left on an outside surface. Studies have shown that undiluted bleach requires shorter exposure times than diluted bleach to be effective against HIV-1. It may also be more effective in the presence of residual blood in the syringe49. Presumably, the same would be true against HCV.”
Bill
Soccer is 19 years old and has to drive his car Friday because it's date night? You say this fellow that drove your car is in the risk category for HIV and HCV but you don't know if he's infected for sure. Sensing some over the top concerns here. You'll never know how many people in your lifetime you've already had contact with that do have an infectious disease so you really can't make any assumptions about the guy that bled in your car. 5 days of dried blood isn't going to infect you with hepc but you can always make a new fashion statement and wear gloves. Many in Europe wear driving gloves.
i know it is hard to believe but bleach does not kill HCV. Many studies have been done, especially with syringes and the bleach had little effect killing the virus.
A solution of water and household bleach mixed 10:1 is more than sufficient to disinfect environmental surfaces; I believe the virus can be viable for up to four days on porous surfaces, but this is in an ideal environment. I really wouldn’t fret much; human skin provides an excellent barrier against infection. If you have open cuts or sores, cover them with bandages. I imagine any bleach would wreak havoc on your cars interior; why not call your doctor for advice? I believe he’d offer you the same info your getting here.
Bill
Bill
I have to drive the car this coming friday, which will be a little over 5 days from the incident. Any thoughts on where or not this will be long enough?
yes HCV can live outside the body for a long time. We have told you that transmission from what you describe is almost 0%. If it makes you feel better don't drive the car for a few weeks so if there is any virus it will be dead by then.
So in line with the cdc report you site in your post, I should be fine if I come into contact with the dried blood after four days?
No, I am not the person you are referring to in your post. I am a concerned college student. I realize how severely impacted my life could be from an infection so I am just trying to cover all my bases.
All I remembered was car - blood - am I infected and tires.
But Im busy today dealing with swine flu so what do I know ;)
But Im busy today dealing with swine flu so what do I know ;)
Only if he got an education. That poster was borderline illiterate but soccerlife writes very well. I think this is a legitimate question from someone with somewhat over the top fear of infection.
Bleach on those leather seats would be a real shame!
Bleach on those leather seats would be a real shame!
He was bleeding from the nose and lip while in my car. I am gravely concerened that there could be blood somewhere in my car and I have seen "
This isn't the fellow from a couple years ago who's car tire was on the road and they drove over blood and then had to change their tire and wondered they were infected or something like that is it?
This isn't the fellow from a couple years ago who's car tire was on the road and they drove over blood and then had to change their tire and wondered they were infected or something like that is it?
Like the others have said the risk is almost 0%. You have a better chance of injury looking around inside the car for blood while driving. Keep your eyes on the road and forget about it!
yes the person whos blood was spilled is in a risk category for hiv and hep c. is there any product I can use that wont ruin the leather but will take care of the problem? thank you very much.
Hi, I can appreciate your concern, I felt as tho I had to watch any little cut or scrape. I read on another thread that bleach will kill it. Take care. June
As Bill told you, the chance of HCV transmission by the means you describe is practically nonexistant. Do you have any reason to think the injured passenger has HCV, or is this just general anxiety?
To put your question into perspective, the odds of transmission via needlestick exposure to health care workers is approximately 0.5 to 3%; and that’s when the HCV tainted blood is injected directly into the body. The chances of HCV transmission in the scenario you relate is as little as to be nil. Although it sounds possible that it might occur this way, it’s not believed to in real life situations. If you’re still concerned, by all means, get tested for HCV antibodies.
Be well—
Bill
Be well—
Bill
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