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How Is HIV Transmitted?

Posted on Sat, 19 Apr 2014

Question: Dear sir, i have this obsessive thought nagging me all the time, i was at the red light district in frankfurt and had a protected blow job with a condom from a hooker, no sex, after the blow job she removed my condom and i went to the wash basin to clean my pennis with water, however when i was washing my pennis, it came in contact with the wash basin surface where there were drops of water, i am not sure if its water or semen from another person who would have washed his pennis there before me, but i felt my pennis tip rubbed againt that liquid, i washed my pennis again and even tried to squeeze it open and put water inside it to be sure, my question is is there a risk of exposure as the fluid on the wash basin came in contact with my pennis tip and assuming if there was really some semen by possibly a infected person lying there in the wash basin for more than 15 minutes? Your answer would be highly appreciated

Answered by Dr. Roopa Hiremath (38 minutes later)

Brief Answer: HIV exposure Detailed Answer: Hi Mr. Aravind, Welcome to health care magic. I understand your concern about getting exposed to HIV infected fluid by contact. HIV is an RNA virus which is easily destroyed when exposed to the outer environment. It can rarely survive for few seconds to minutes at room temperature. There is very little chance of exposure in your case. Moreover the volume of fluid you have been exposed to is also very scanty. Please relax and do not worry about that episode unnecessarily. I hope I have cleared your doubts. Please get back if I can assist you further. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Roopa Hiremath (11 minutes later)

Thanks dr XXXXXXX Many thanks and appreciate your response, you have cleared my doubts, just wanted to confirm few things. Assuming that there were many drops of semen on the wash basin for may be 10+ minutes and if penis tip (urethra opening) came in contact with those drops, will those drops of semen (lets say 4 to 6 drops) enough to survive the room temperatures and spread the infection? I have read that the pennis tip and the opening is mucus membrane which the bacteria can penetrate? Would appreciate if you can answer me and give me a risk assessment rating in the above case What do you think is the risk assesment

Answered by Dr. Roopa Hiremath (3 hours later)

Brief Answer: HIV Risk assessment Detailed Answer: Hi, Welcome back. HIV risk assessment is made based on two codes called as exposure code and status code. Exposure code is of three types, EC1, EC2 and EC3. EC1 - is when you get exposed on intact skin or mucus membrane with very little volume of infected fluid and for very short duration. EC2 - is when you get exposed on compromised skin or mucus membrane with high volume of infected fluid and for longer duration. EC3 - percutaneous exposure or needle prick. Status code is of three types, SC1, SC2, SC unknown SC1 - confirmed HIV positive, but asymptomatic (meaning low viral load) SC2 - confirmed HIV positive, but symptomatic (meaning high viral load) SC unknown - HIV status unknown EC1 and SC1 and SC unknown - Low risk EC2 and SC1 and SC2 - moderate risk EC3 and SC1, SC2 and SC unknown - high risk. Your case is EC1 and SC unknown which is of very low risk. I hope I have reduced your anxiety regarding that exposure. Please get back if any more doubts. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Roopa Hiremath (1 hour later)

Great ! Yes you have certainly reduced my anxiety alot, professional advise from you is really invaluable for people like us, great job, just to confirm for my own sake So that means even if my penis tip is exposed to lets say 6 to 8 drops of semen (infected fluid) on the wash basin for a very short period of time (6 to 8 secs). The chances are pretty slim or zero? because the fluid is exposed to air and its viral load is dead? Secondly assuming that there was infected fluid 6 to 8 drops lying on the wash basin for 10+ minutes, does the penis tip or the urethra opening need to have a cut or a sore or ulcer for the bacteria to get into humans in the above scenario? Would highly appreciate your help if you can answer the above two questions

Answered by Dr. Roopa Hiremath (19 minutes later)

Brief Answer: HIV exposure Detailed Answer: Hi, The answers to your queries are given below: 1. You are right, less likely chances of viable HIV particles present on the wash basin and we are just assuming that fluid was HIV infected. (HIV status unknown) 2. Compromised skin or mucous membrane more prone for the virus to enter easily into the body and set up infection. I hope I have answered your queries satisfactorily. Please get back if any more clarifications. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Roopa Hiremath (2 hours later)

Ok even if viable HIV particles were present in the semen drops may be 6 to 8 drops in the wash basin for 10 minutes, do you think they would be strong enough to enter through the penis tip or urethral opening if there were no cut or sore present? I mean the temperature was almost 28 to 30C in the toilet. I understand the chances are near to ZERO and my questions might sound stupid, but just for my reassurance to forget this whole episode and move forward. I would never ever do this again in my life....And one more thing to add, i had couple of beers before all this happened that night, i heard that alcohol makes the urethra sore or inflamed. Do you think this is a problem? Waiting for your response on this question and the above question

Answered by Dr. Roopa Hiremath (42 minutes later)

Brief Answer: HIV entry and effect of alcohol Detailed Answer: Hi, I understand your anxiety and concern about this episode. I also want to mention here that there is lots of information about HIV and AIDS on the net, which can be very misleading and can cause panic in the reader. The risk for HIV infection depends on the volume of infected fluid and duration of exposure. The highest risk is during sexual intercourse when the genital mucous membrane is exposed to semen or vaginal fluid which is very rich in HIV particles and HIV enters the genital mucus membrane through small abrasions that are caused during intercourse. Intact mucous membrane exposed to infected fluid for very short duration, is of very low risk. Alcohol does cause frequent urination as it acts as a diuretic, but does not cause inflammation of urethra. Consumption of alcohol does not play any role here. I hope I have cleared your doubts. Thanks.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar