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Can HIV Be Contracted Through An Open Wound?
Question: hi doctor i have a question yesterday when i was working under a cable junction box in my rig one of the wire got scratched my hand very little i mean a little cut and one person also worked before under that box i dont know whether it has scratched him also i dont know hiv status of that guy even if any blood sample remains on that do i get hiv i worked there after half an hour he left from that place and that wire is too rusty and full of dust please clarify my doubt
Brief Answer:
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Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Let me see if I understand your question correctly. You are thinking that the wire that scratched your hand and left a small cut had scratched someone else immediately before you?
HIV is not spread by inanimate objects unless there are fresh bodily fluids on it. HIV dies quickly with minimal exposure to air - which is why it doesn't spread easily from inanimate objects.
Unless the wire had just punctured him and there was fresh blood on it and then punctured you within a few seconds, there is really no risk of HIV.
However, if you are not up to date on your tetanus boosters (every 10 yrs), now would be the time to go get one.
Does this answer your question? If not, please let me know and I will try to clarify.
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Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Let me see if I understand your question correctly. You are thinking that the wire that scratched your hand and left a small cut had scratched someone else immediately before you?
HIV is not spread by inanimate objects unless there are fresh bodily fluids on it. HIV dies quickly with minimal exposure to air - which is why it doesn't spread easily from inanimate objects.
Unless the wire had just punctured him and there was fresh blood on it and then punctured you within a few seconds, there is really no risk of HIV.
However, if you are not up to date on your tetanus boosters (every 10 yrs), now would be the time to go get one.
Does this answer your question? If not, please let me know and I will try to clarify.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thanks for clarifying my doubt what is tetanus booster and what is it for
Brief Answer:
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Detailed Answer:
Hello - Tetanus is a neurological disorder that comes from the bacterium/spore called clostridium tetani. It is a serious disease, but is very rare nowadays because of good wound care and the tetanus vaccine. You most likely had the tetanus vaccine series of shots when you were a child. The risk of tetanus occurs when the tetanus spores get into deep wounds that don't have a lot of air, such as narrow puncture wounds caused by stepping on a nail, etc. Rusty objects or ones soiled with dirt are more concerning than a clean object. In the US, it's generally recommended to get a booster vaccine for tetanus every 10 years, but most people don't bother until they get a puncture wound as described, then they go in to see the doctor for the wound and we give a tetanus shot then. After a wound, a person has 72 hours to get the vaccine.
The wound you described does not sound particularly concerning for tetanus risk, because it was (I think) superficial, not deep. I mentioned tetanus just as a matter of course because you had mentioned that the wire was rusty.
By "booster vaccine" it means a small dose of the vaccine that you previously received years ago. By calling it booster it just means it will boost the immunity you already have to this bacteria from the previous vaccines you had.
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Detailed Answer:
Hello - Tetanus is a neurological disorder that comes from the bacterium/spore called clostridium tetani. It is a serious disease, but is very rare nowadays because of good wound care and the tetanus vaccine. You most likely had the tetanus vaccine series of shots when you were a child. The risk of tetanus occurs when the tetanus spores get into deep wounds that don't have a lot of air, such as narrow puncture wounds caused by stepping on a nail, etc. Rusty objects or ones soiled with dirt are more concerning than a clean object. In the US, it's generally recommended to get a booster vaccine for tetanus every 10 years, but most people don't bother until they get a puncture wound as described, then they go in to see the doctor for the wound and we give a tetanus shot then. After a wound, a person has 72 hours to get the vaccine.
The wound you described does not sound particularly concerning for tetanus risk, because it was (I think) superficial, not deep. I mentioned tetanus just as a matter of course because you had mentioned that the wire was rusty.
By "booster vaccine" it means a small dose of the vaccine that you previously received years ago. By calling it booster it just means it will boost the immunity you already have to this bacteria from the previous vaccines you had.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you doctor so no need to worry about HIV right
Brief Answer:
No need to worry about HIV.
Detailed Answer:
No, this was not a situation where you need to worry about HIV.
No need to worry about HIV.
Detailed Answer:
No, this was not a situation where you need to worry about HIV.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hi doctor I have one more doubt yesterday I met that person who worked at that cable before me I saw his hands that he had any wounds with that cable I found there is very little peel off from his skin and I worked at that cable after 5-10 mins after him still do I have to worry about HIV or not because it was only 5-10 mins I went there after him
Brief Answer:
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Detailed Answer:
Hi -
Superficial wound or abrasion on his hands that didn't result in bleeding on the wire immediately before it punctured you would not be a concern. There would have had to be fresh blood that entered your body, and this sounds very unlikely from the situation. It doesn't sound like a high risk situation for HIV.
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Detailed Answer:
Hi -
Superficial wound or abrasion on his hands that didn't result in bleeding on the wire immediately before it punctured you would not be a concern. There would have had to be fresh blood that entered your body, and this sounds very unlikely from the situation. It doesn't sound like a high risk situation for HIV.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Brief Answer:
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Detailed Answer:
If the wound was not deep, didn't produce blood, then no, there is no need to consider an HIV risk. It sounds as though the wound was superficial. So,no, I wouldn't worry if that is the case.
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Detailed Answer:
If the wound was not deep, didn't produce blood, then no, there is no need to consider an HIV risk. It sounds as though the wound was superficial. So,no, I wouldn't worry if that is the case.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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