At

[Johnyaam]

Dear doctors
I had a bad traveling day. As i was going through security check in the airport , i had to take of my shoes and walk bare foot. There was a coffee plastic stick on the floor that i stepped on  and it scratched me and then as i was getting my shoes i stepped on the most painful staple in the world. Is there an std or hiv or hepatitis  risk from both events? There were barefooted people before me that could have also stepped on then
Thank you

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Please don't split hairs.  In science one can never say never.  Something that has never happened before could happen tomorrow.  You have no reason to worry.  EWH

[Johnyaam]

DeAr doctor
Thank you for your reply
But what is the difference between a meaningful risk and a none meaningful risk? Do i have a small risk you mean?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to the Forum.  This is a familiar question.  There is no risk to you for HIV, Hepatitis or other blood borne infections from having stepped on a staple or scratched yourself on a stick passing through airline security checks.  There is little chance that such objects were contaminated with blood or infectious secretions and if they were, it is unlikely that the person they came from had any of these infections.  Most importantly however, these organisms do not survive and maintain their infectivity outside of the body on inanimate objects.

The situations you describe did not put you at any meaningful risk for HIV or other STIS.  I would not worry and see no reason for testing.  EWH