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Can HIV Be Contracted Through An Open Wound?

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Posted on Fri, 30 Jan 2015
Question: Hello Sir/Madam,

I am going to marry on this April. I haven't done any sex activity in my past life and I am not a drug user. But I have some doubts in my mind.

1. I have nail biting and skin biting habit near nail. So some time I have hangnails or small wound If I remove my skin near nail. Sometime it bleed if remove skin near nail. I am staying in Hostel/PG for past 5 years and I have to share toilet/bathroom. In Hostel/PG usually some person are going to Red-Light area. So, If I have touched some semen with small wound in finger(extremely rare case If that was bleeding) while washing cloth. Whether there is any possibility of HIV infection?

2. Around Six year back I have brought used syringe from my Uncle Clinic to Refill Ink Cartage for Ink-Jet printer. After 1 month while filling Ink into needle stuck my Index finger. I really got scared. So what are change of getting HIV infection with needle stuck in index finger( If syringe was used before one month back)? It was really small injury but small amount of blood came from my finger.

3. I have read everywhere to have HIV infection HIV blood should be inside your bloodstream. So what is meaning of Bloodstream whether It mean inside body or inside vein? because in case of wound or small needle injury in finger how HIV can enter into bloodstream?

4. I have read everywhere to have HIV infection, It should be fresh blood. What is meaning of fresh blood?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Arun (29 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
no possibility of infection to you

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX

Thank you for your question to HCM,

I read your question and understand your concern.,

I am Dr Arun Tank answering my query.

Please find my answer below in point wise manner.

1. HIV virus wont survive in the atmosphere for more than hour, so there is no possibility of infection to you.

2. As you had used it after one month, all the possible viruses has flushed out (though chances of having viruses is very small). So in this case also there is no chance of any HIV infection.

3. Usually virus enters the body through vein but once entered it remains through out the body. Once infection occurs it is present in the blood (vein) and body fluids (CSF etc.) as well.

4. As I mentioned the virus must be alive to get transferred. Only fresh blood contains the living virus and so has capacity for infection. If the blood is old the virus will die in the blood and so has no possibility of HIV infection.

Survival of virus also depends on quantity of blood. If the amount of blood is more the virus will survive for long time. if the blood has low quantity virus survival time is less.

Example: In cold storage blood bottle containing HIV virus can survive for around year or long.

You can come back for further clarification and query. You can ask me here or you can ask me on bit.ly/DrArun

Thank you,
Dr Arun Tank
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Arun (5 hours later)
Thanks Sir, for your valuable Answer...There are few more queries


1.HIV virus are kill within hours when expose to air. But suppose in extreme condition I touch HIV infected semen within minute with small wound on my finger in bathroom. So in this case whether there is any possibility. Because If needle stick injury causes infection so why not in this case. That is my concern.

2.HIV virus are killed when they are dried but Inside needle whether they are active for One month because they will not dried. One thing in my case was good that when needle stuck my finger syringe was one month old and kept at room temperature.

3.Sir, what is meaning of the Bloodstream? Whether It is blood inside our vein.
So, threw small needle stick Injury in finger It can enter into vein?

4.In what condition some can get HIV infection threw If someone touch HIV blood/semen on floor with small wound in body? According to me It not possible because Virus requre certain amount time to infect and before It is killed by atmosphere oxygen.

5. Whether there is any possibility of HIV infection threw nail biting and skin biting habit which lead small cut/wound frequency and contact with HIV virus from surface?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Arun (18 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Please find answer below...

Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX XXXXXXX

Thanks for asking your concern.

Please find your answer in point wise manner below.

1. Bathroom is used for bathing, so I think semen wont lie here and there every time. Even if some one masturbate in the bathroom the resultant semen get diluted with the water on the floor. Wound at the finger immediately got covered by the protected tissue (Clotted blood). So keeping all the facts in my there is nil possibility of HIV in you.

2. You have used the syringe for one month for filling ink. During this procedure you already flushed out the viruses present in the syringe. So prick by this needle is non harmful. But you should take the tetanus vaccine done. Because it is possibility that it is rusted.

3. When you pricked with the needle virus first infects the CD4 cells (Helper T lymphocytes) in the blood. There after they are carried to the regional lymphnodes. Thereafter this lymphnodes acts as relay house of the virus in the body. Viruses thereafter transmitted and remain is circulations as well as in body fluids.

4. When freshly voided blood or semen contacts fresh wound than only HIV infection is possible. Survival of HIV in atmosphere is not exactly known. But it never survives for long period.

5. As I mentioned in previous point, only fresh wound can transmit the infection.

You can ask your further concern here or you can ask me personally on bit.ly/DrArun

Wish you a best health at HCM.

Thank you,
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Arun (4 hours later)
Thanks Sir...For your valuable Feedback...

Actually one of my Friend told to have Pre-Matrial Medical Test before Marriage.
Although I don't have any type of Sex History in my Past Life(Still Virgin) and Belongs to Brahmin Family, So don't have any type of Drug history(Not Smoker and Not Drinker). But when It for HIV Test lot of things comes into Mind. In Internet Barbar Shop and Wound HIV Infection are written?

1. Sir, I was taking about while washing cloths in Bathroom floor. Generally I have nail biting and Skill tearing near nail habit. So some time there is small injury blood comes out. In internet I have read that if at same HIV fluid comes out it will cause Infection. In rare case it can happen because of my habit.

But In internet I have studied that from superficial cut/injury HIV infection will not occur. To cause HIV infection there should cut which requires stitches.

Q. Whether It is true from superficial cut HIV infection will not occur?

According to me In my case(rare incident) If I have small injury due tearing of skin near nail and blood coming out and I have touch HIV fluid from surface. HIV will not get Inside because blood is coming out and Our body is good machine It will heal inside to out. So, small cut which heal by Itself and Touching HIV Fluid Infection not occur.


Q.According to CDC HIV is not Infectious outside HOST what it mean?So I will cause infection from outside body?


doctor
Answered by Dr. Arun (18 hours later)
Brief Answer:
No, it is not true

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX

Thank you for asking query.

No, it is not true. Even superficial injury can cause infection if it is fresh and significant amount of infecting viral dose is stuck to the wound. Same principle applies to stitched wound.

Body healing won't happen from inside out. It starts from outside and then healing occurs as general (from both inside and outside).

It never infects from nail biting point. Since there is outer protecting level of wound which protects you. Also viral load gets diluted in water and the possibility becomes nil.

As I mentioned previously HIV never survives on surface. So no chance of infection from surface.

For HIV infection, host is human. So outside human means other animals never get infected by HIV also human not infected by other animals.

So you will not be infected by other bodies except human containing HIV.

You can cone back for further clarification.

Hope I answered your query well.

Thank you,
Dr Arun Tank


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Arun (21 hours later)

Thanks Sir, for your feedback...

Regarding superficial cut I have studied from following links...

http://www.csa.za.org/facts
http://helpline.aidsvancouver.org/question/cuts-clarification-needed-please-explain-specific-possible
http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=28365.0

and many more...

Technically they are saying right...By touching HIV Semen with superficial cut can't cause HIV because exposure to air will kill HIV...Semen/Blood should inside your body by Injecting through Needle or large amount of Blood with Deep Injury..

Q.Drying will kill HIV or In wet condition after few second they are killed?
Q.Whether above mentioned links are right or wrong?
Q.If small cut some one get HIV then person who have crack on feet can be infected using public toilet/bathroom?
Q.Should I go for Pre matrial Medical test b'cause I don't have any type of Past Sex history and not a Drug users and not Hospitalized is past? Only I have above mentioned concern?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Arun (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
No need for worry for HIV....

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thank you for asking concern.

Please find your answer below.

1. Drying has more serious effect on HIV and it killed immediately than wet.

2. In the above provided links some are facts and some has some doubt full value.

3. Usually heel crack has healing fibrous tissue, which will prevent HIV virus to come in body contact. WO there is no chance of HIV by this means.

4. In my opinion there is no need for any premarital examination . such type of fear are common in some individuals, though there is no point of worry.

In my opinion you are free from STDs and needs no evaluation. Just allay the fear of HIV and enjoy the pre married life.

I hope I answered your question well.
You can ask me further concerns if you have.

Thank you,
Note: Get personalized answers to your HIV related queries You can choose to talk face to face with your doctor. Book a Video Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E
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Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Arun

Infectious Diseases Specialist

Practicing since :2008

Answered : 2434 Questions

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Can HIV Be Contracted Through An Open Wound?

Brief Answer: no possibility of infection to you Detailed Answer: Hi XXXXXXX Thank you for your question to HCM, I read your question and understand your concern., I am Dr Arun Tank answering my query. Please find my answer below in point wise manner. 1. HIV virus wont survive in the atmosphere for more than hour, so there is no possibility of infection to you. 2. As you had used it after one month, all the possible viruses has flushed out (though chances of having viruses is very small). So in this case also there is no chance of any HIV infection. 3. Usually virus enters the body through vein but once entered it remains through out the body. Once infection occurs it is present in the blood (vein) and body fluids (CSF etc.) as well. 4. As I mentioned the virus must be alive to get transferred. Only fresh blood contains the living virus and so has capacity for infection. If the blood is old the virus will die in the blood and so has no possibility of HIV infection. Survival of virus also depends on quantity of blood. If the amount of blood is more the virus will survive for long time. if the blood has low quantity virus survival time is less. Example: In cold storage blood bottle containing HIV virus can survive for around year or long. You can come back for further clarification and query. You can ask me here or you can ask me on bit.ly/DrArun Thank you, Dr Arun Tank