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Hello, I Shook Hands With A Customer Of Unknown Status.
Question: Hello,
I shook hands with a customer of unknown status. The person seemed more than little disheveled and sordid with busted hands, tattoos, and dirty nails. I had an extremely tiny cut that was already healing on my thumb from a paper cut about three hours prior...but my middle finger is also healing from a bout of cellulitis that raptured about a week-nine days ago and the skin is still quite cracked/in the process of healing though a thin protective layer. I will attach photos of the wound.
There was no visible blood exchanged but I didn't quite get a look at the person's palm/inside of their hands. I immediately put on purell and looked for any sort of exchange of fluids. There does not seem to have been any.
Does this pose any conceivable risk?
I shook hands with a customer of unknown status. The person seemed more than little disheveled and sordid with busted hands, tattoos, and dirty nails. I had an extremely tiny cut that was already healing on my thumb from a paper cut about three hours prior...but my middle finger is also healing from a bout of cellulitis that raptured about a week-nine days ago and the skin is still quite cracked/in the process of healing though a thin protective layer. I will attach photos of the wound.
There was no visible blood exchanged but I didn't quite get a look at the person's palm/inside of their hands. I immediately put on purell and looked for any sort of exchange of fluids. There does not seem to have been any.
Does this pose any conceivable risk?
This is the photo of my finger:
It is attached to the recent reports.
ruptured about a week-nine days ago*
Brief Answer:
There is no risk for HIV.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome in "Ask a Doctor".
I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.
Based on your history, just shaking hands, you shouldn't worry because there is no risk for HIV even if you have open sores in your hand.
I have seen the picture and I think that this tiny cut doesn't have the risk of blood contact.
It needs a huge direct blood to blood contact of the bleeding sores to exist the risk for HIV transmmision.
Hope I have answered your query.
Feel free to ask me further.
There is no risk for HIV.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome in "Ask a Doctor".
I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.
Based on your history, just shaking hands, you shouldn't worry because there is no risk for HIV even if you have open sores in your hand.
I have seen the picture and I think that this tiny cut doesn't have the risk of blood contact.
It needs a huge direct blood to blood contact of the bleeding sores to exist the risk for HIV transmmision.
Hope I have answered your query.
Feel free to ask me further.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
Answered by
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