Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Hello, Please The Major HIV Helplines Like TheBody Or XXXXXXX
Question: Hello, please the major HIV helplines like TheBody or XXXXXXX helpline state that HIV transmission from blood or semen on an inanimate object - touching with a cut or from sharing a drink, is impossible. They state that HIV dies upon exposure to air in seconds, however, I found only study that claims HIV dies after drying and this is 90-99% dies in several hours not in seconds. 1 also found that HIV can survive outside the body for up to 7 days.
2 Also, everyone states that casual contact does not transmit HIV. But I found studies that seem to indicate this type of transmission is possible even in household settings.
3 4 5 I most almost certainly do not have HIV but I worry about this type of transmission. For example at home or somewhere I might have semen on my hand or blood or vaginal fluid and touch things and if for ex. my family members or someone else gets cut on the hand and touches this fluid left there transmission might be possible? Also sharing a drink if I have bleeding gums about which I don't know and share drink there could be some blood left there and if the person drinking after me had bleeding gum too blood could get into the bloodstream. Are there any reported cases of transmission like this? Because judging by what I found some of those cases could be transmitted like this ex. a mother caring for adult son and coming in contact with his fluids.
3 Also, I wasn't able to find any more cases after 1998 study 5 , so I don't know maybe some other cases with transmission like this were reported since then till 2019. Because if some cases were reported then it is not a No Risk scenario and It would be smart to take some precautions to avoid infecting people in my surroundings if I were to get HIV. From biological standpoint it might be possible as if enough semen or blood is left and if it wasn’t on an object for too long and then someone with large enough cut touches it seems possible. However, I am not sure if any cases like this were reported.
Also biologically the share drink scenario with bleeding gums seems possible, but am unsure if any cases like this were reported. Also, getting a haircut by family member for ex. if they would to cut me and I would bleed and they would have cut ont their hands...
I haven’t found anyone advising on preventive measurement like cleaning hands with alcohol or water-soap, immediately before touching any surface others might touch home or outside. Or not sharing drinks.
What should I do because I get quite paranoid and it causes anxiety when I don’t know what preventive measurements are justified, as I don’t know if these transmissions are possible but unlikely or rather No Risk as other sites define them. Thanks
Please find the studies below -
1 https://www.cdc.gov/MMWR/preview/MMWRhtml/0000.htm
2 https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324052.php
3 https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/0000.htm
4 https://wonder.cdc.gov/wonder/prevguid/p0000/p0000.asp
5 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0000
2 Also, everyone states that casual contact does not transmit HIV. But I found studies that seem to indicate this type of transmission is possible even in household settings.
3 4 5 I most almost certainly do not have HIV but I worry about this type of transmission. For example at home or somewhere I might have semen on my hand or blood or vaginal fluid and touch things and if for ex. my family members or someone else gets cut on the hand and touches this fluid left there transmission might be possible? Also sharing a drink if I have bleeding gums about which I don't know and share drink there could be some blood left there and if the person drinking after me had bleeding gum too blood could get into the bloodstream. Are there any reported cases of transmission like this? Because judging by what I found some of those cases could be transmitted like this ex. a mother caring for adult son and coming in contact with his fluids.
3 Also, I wasn't able to find any more cases after 1998 study 5 , so I don't know maybe some other cases with transmission like this were reported since then till 2019. Because if some cases were reported then it is not a No Risk scenario and It would be smart to take some precautions to avoid infecting people in my surroundings if I were to get HIV. From biological standpoint it might be possible as if enough semen or blood is left and if it wasn’t on an object for too long and then someone with large enough cut touches it seems possible. However, I am not sure if any cases like this were reported.
Also biologically the share drink scenario with bleeding gums seems possible, but am unsure if any cases like this were reported. Also, getting a haircut by family member for ex. if they would to cut me and I would bleed and they would have cut ont their hands...
I haven’t found anyone advising on preventive measurement like cleaning hands with alcohol or water-soap, immediately before touching any surface others might touch home or outside. Or not sharing drinks.
What should I do because I get quite paranoid and it causes anxiety when I don’t know what preventive measurements are justified, as I don’t know if these transmissions are possible but unlikely or rather No Risk as other sites define them. Thanks
Please find the studies below -
1 https://www.cdc.gov/MMWR/preview/MMWRhtml/0000.htm
2 https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324052.php
3 https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/0000.htm
4 https://wonder.cdc.gov/wonder/prevguid/p0000/p0000.asp
5 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0000
Hello, please the major HIV helplines like TheBody or XXXXXXX helpline state that HIV transmission from blood or semen on an inanimate object - touching with a cut or from sharing a drink, is impossible. They state that HIV dies upon exposure to air in seconds, however, I found only study that claims HIV dies after drying and this is 90-99% dies in several hours not in seconds. 1 also found that HIV can survive outside the body for up to 7 days.
2 Also, everyone states that casual contact does not transmit HIV. But I found studies that seem to indicate this type of transmission is possible even in household settings.
3 4 5 I most almost certainly do not have HIV but I worry about this type of transmission. For example at home or somewhere I might have semen on my hand or blood or vaginal fluid and touch things and if for ex. my family members or someone else gets cut on the hand and touches this fluid left there transmission might be possible? Also sharing a drink if I have bleeding gums about which I don't know and share drink there could be some blood left there and if the person drinking after me had bleeding gum too blood could get into the bloodstream. Are there any reported cases of transmission like this? Because judging by what I found some of those cases could be transmitted like this ex. a mother caring for adult son and coming in contact with his fluids.
3 Also, I wasn't able to find any more cases after 1998 study 5 , so I don't know maybe some other cases with transmission like this were reported since then till 2019. Because if some cases were reported then it is not a No Risk scenario and It would be smart to take some precautions to avoid infecting people in my surroundings if I were to get HIV. From biological standpoint it might be possible as if enough semen or blood is left and if it wasn’t on an object for too long and then someone with large enough cut touches it seems possible. However, I am not sure if any cases like this were reported.
Also biologically the share drink scenario with bleeding gums seems possible, but am unsure if any cases like this were reported. Also, getting a haircut by family member for ex. if they would to cut me and I would bleed and they would have cut ont their hands...
I haven’t found anyone advising on preventive measurement like cleaning hands with alcohol or water-soap, immediately before touching any surface others might touch home or outside. Or not sharing drinks.
What should I do because I get quite paranoid and it causes anxiety when I don’t know what preventive measurements are justified, as I don’t know if these transmissions are possible but unlikely or rather No Risk as other sites define them. Thanks
Please find the studies below -
1 https://www.cdc.gov/MMWR/preview/MMWRhtml/0000.htm
2 https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324052.php
3 https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/0000.htm
4 https://wonder.cdc.gov/wonder/prevguid/p0000/p0000.asp
5 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0000
2 Also, everyone states that casual contact does not transmit HIV. But I found studies that seem to indicate this type of transmission is possible even in household settings.
3 4 5 I most almost certainly do not have HIV but I worry about this type of transmission. For example at home or somewhere I might have semen on my hand or blood or vaginal fluid and touch things and if for ex. my family members or someone else gets cut on the hand and touches this fluid left there transmission might be possible? Also sharing a drink if I have bleeding gums about which I don't know and share drink there could be some blood left there and if the person drinking after me had bleeding gum too blood could get into the bloodstream. Are there any reported cases of transmission like this? Because judging by what I found some of those cases could be transmitted like this ex. a mother caring for adult son and coming in contact with his fluids.
3 Also, I wasn't able to find any more cases after 1998 study 5 , so I don't know maybe some other cases with transmission like this were reported since then till 2019. Because if some cases were reported then it is not a No Risk scenario and It would be smart to take some precautions to avoid infecting people in my surroundings if I were to get HIV. From biological standpoint it might be possible as if enough semen or blood is left and if it wasn’t on an object for too long and then someone with large enough cut touches it seems possible. However, I am not sure if any cases like this were reported.
Also biologically the share drink scenario with bleeding gums seems possible, but am unsure if any cases like this were reported. Also, getting a haircut by family member for ex. if they would to cut me and I would bleed and they would have cut ont their hands...
I haven’t found anyone advising on preventive measurement like cleaning hands with alcohol or water-soap, immediately before touching any surface others might touch home or outside. Or not sharing drinks.
What should I do because I get quite paranoid and it causes anxiety when I don’t know what preventive measurements are justified, as I don’t know if these transmissions are possible but unlikely or rather No Risk as other sites define them. Thanks
Please find the studies below -
1 https://www.cdc.gov/MMWR/preview/MMWRhtml/0000.htm
2 https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324052.php
3 https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/0000.htm
4 https://wonder.cdc.gov/wonder/prevguid/p0000/p0000.asp
5 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0000
Why is it takign so long? You are supposed to have "online" doctors?
Why is it takign so long? You are supposed to have "online" doctors?
If it is not replied now, the process the refund. The answer is free- I am not sure even if you will honor it!
If it is not replied now, the process the refund. The answer is free- I am not sure even if you will honor it!
Brief Answer:
HIV spread through casual contacts rare. Can be Protected by guidelines.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to"ASK A DOCTOR"
Thank you very much for posting your queries.
HIV can survive only in body fluids and not outside. Outside body fluids it cannot thrive for more than few seconds.
Depending upon the humidity and temperature of places it may vary to an extent depending upon when it gets dried. Inside a cadaver fluids,virus can persist alive for days as long as the fluid gets dried.
In healthcare settings there is every possibility for one to get HIV through injury or exposure to body fluids for which in Hospitals they have to follow strictly universal work precautions. Those will save guard them.
In home care I had come across hundreds of patients and their uninfected family members for years and remain HIV nonreactive in spite of attending almost all their needs. Only thing is they must take extra care when handling blood and other body fluids and the disposal of the same..Adopting universal work precautions and using house old bleach will protect them and we used to advise regarding this when we start care.
I myself was in charge of a HIV children home for 3 years and handled various situations with bleeding, needling of Molluscum, wound care etc. so also many care givers there.
All are safe till now.
Protecting the wound by a waterproof dressing, washing with soaps and water, Hydrogen peroxide, spirit and bleaching powder will all help in this situations.
Nothing to get panicky.
If the situation is so bad as you explained by the time 80% human population would have been infected with HIV.
DR S.Murugan
HIV spread through casual contacts rare. Can be Protected by guidelines.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to"ASK A DOCTOR"
Thank you very much for posting your queries.
HIV can survive only in body fluids and not outside. Outside body fluids it cannot thrive for more than few seconds.
Depending upon the humidity and temperature of places it may vary to an extent depending upon when it gets dried. Inside a cadaver fluids,virus can persist alive for days as long as the fluid gets dried.
In healthcare settings there is every possibility for one to get HIV through injury or exposure to body fluids for which in Hospitals they have to follow strictly universal work precautions. Those will save guard them.
In home care I had come across hundreds of patients and their uninfected family members for years and remain HIV nonreactive in spite of attending almost all their needs. Only thing is they must take extra care when handling blood and other body fluids and the disposal of the same..Adopting universal work precautions and using house old bleach will protect them and we used to advise regarding this when we start care.
I myself was in charge of a HIV children home for 3 years and handled various situations with bleeding, needling of Molluscum, wound care etc. so also many care givers there.
All are safe till now.
Protecting the wound by a waterproof dressing, washing with soaps and water, Hydrogen peroxide, spirit and bleaching powder will all help in this situations.
Nothing to get panicky.
If the situation is so bad as you explained by the time 80% human population would have been infected with HIV.
DR S.Murugan
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Brief Answer:
HIV spread through casual contacts rare. Can be Protected by guidelines.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to"ASK A DOCTOR"
Thank you very much for posting your queries.
HIV can survive only in body fluids and not outside. Outside body fluids it cannot thrive for more than few seconds.
Depending upon the humidity and temperature of places it may vary to an extent depending upon when it gets dried. Inside a cadaver fluids,virus can persist alive for days as long as the fluid gets dried.
In healthcare settings there is every possibility for one to get HIV through injury or exposure to body fluids for which in Hospitals they have to follow strictly universal work precautions. Those will save guard them.
In home care I had come across hundreds of patients and their uninfected family members for years and remain HIV nonreactive in spite of attending almost all their needs. Only thing is they must take extra care when handling blood and other body fluids and the disposal of the same..Adopting universal work precautions and using house old bleach will protect them and we used to advise regarding this when we start care.
I myself was in charge of a HIV children home for 3 years and handled various situations with bleeding, needling of Molluscum, wound care etc. so also many care givers there.
All are safe till now.
Protecting the wound by a waterproof dressing, washing with soaps and water, Hydrogen peroxide, spirit and bleaching powder will all help in this situations.
Nothing to get panicky.
If the situation is so bad as you explained by the time 80% human population would have been infected with HIV.
DR S.Murugan
HIV spread through casual contacts rare. Can be Protected by guidelines.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to"ASK A DOCTOR"
Thank you very much for posting your queries.
HIV can survive only in body fluids and not outside. Outside body fluids it cannot thrive for more than few seconds.
Depending upon the humidity and temperature of places it may vary to an extent depending upon when it gets dried. Inside a cadaver fluids,virus can persist alive for days as long as the fluid gets dried.
In healthcare settings there is every possibility for one to get HIV through injury or exposure to body fluids for which in Hospitals they have to follow strictly universal work precautions. Those will save guard them.
In home care I had come across hundreds of patients and their uninfected family members for years and remain HIV nonreactive in spite of attending almost all their needs. Only thing is they must take extra care when handling blood and other body fluids and the disposal of the same..Adopting universal work precautions and using house old bleach will protect them and we used to advise regarding this when we start care.
I myself was in charge of a HIV children home for 3 years and handled various situations with bleeding, needling of Molluscum, wound care etc. so also many care givers there.
All are safe till now.
Protecting the wound by a waterproof dressing, washing with soaps and water, Hydrogen peroxide, spirit and bleaching powder will all help in this situations.
Nothing to get panicky.
If the situation is so bad as you explained by the time 80% human population would have been infected with HIV.
DR S.Murugan
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for your answer. I am concerned about how long it would take for HIV to die in room conditions is it really seconds or minutes or hours or days. I found here https://stanfordhealthcare.org/medical-conditions/sexual-and-reproductive-health/hiv-aids/faqs.html under How well does HIV survive outside the body?
That there have been no reported cases of transmission from inanimate objects is it true? Bacause those old studies I linked transmission this way seems possible. Also, they state that HIV concentrations in a study published by CDC where they showed 90-99 % within hours was higher than in normal bodily fluids. Does this apply to other studies that shown that HIV can survive for up to 7 days in room temperature? http://www.aidsmap.com/Survival-outside-the-body/page/0000/
Again sharing the previous information -
1 https://www.cdc.gov/MMWR/preview/MMWRhtml/0000.htm
2 https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324052.php
3 https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/0000.htm
4 https://wonder.cdc.gov/wonder/prevguid/p0000/p0000.asp
5 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0000
That there have been no reported cases of transmission from inanimate objects is it true? Bacause those old studies I linked transmission this way seems possible. Also, they state that HIV concentrations in a study published by CDC where they showed 90-99 % within hours was higher than in normal bodily fluids. Does this apply to other studies that shown that HIV can survive for up to 7 days in room temperature? http://www.aidsmap.com/Survival-outside-the-body/page/0000/
Again sharing the previous information -
1 https://www.cdc.gov/MMWR/preview/MMWRhtml/0000.htm
2 https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324052.php
3 https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/0000.htm
4 https://wonder.cdc.gov/wonder/prevguid/p0000/p0000.asp
5 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0000
Thank you for your answer. I am concerned about how long it would take for HIV to die in room conditions is it really seconds or minutes or hours or days. I found here https://stanfordhealthcare.org/medical-conditions/sexual-and-reproductive-health/hiv-aids/faqs.html under How well does HIV survive outside the body?
That there have been no reported cases of transmission from inanimate objects is it true? Bacause those old studies I linked transmission this way seems possible. Also, they state that HIV concentrations in a study published by CDC where they showed 90-99 % within hours was higher than in normal bodily fluids. Does this apply to other studies that shown that HIV can survive for up to 7 days in room temperature? http://www.aidsmap.com/Survival-outside-the-body/page/0000/
Again sharing the previous information -
1 https://www.cdc.gov/MMWR/preview/MMWRhtml/0000.htm
2 https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324052.php
3 https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/0000.htm
4 https://wonder.cdc.gov/wonder/prevguid/p0000/p0000.asp
5 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0000
That there have been no reported cases of transmission from inanimate objects is it true? Bacause those old studies I linked transmission this way seems possible. Also, they state that HIV concentrations in a study published by CDC where they showed 90-99 % within hours was higher than in normal bodily fluids. Does this apply to other studies that shown that HIV can survive for up to 7 days in room temperature? http://www.aidsmap.com/Survival-outside-the-body/page/0000/
Again sharing the previous information -
1 https://www.cdc.gov/MMWR/preview/MMWRhtml/0000.htm
2 https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324052.php
3 https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/0000.htm
4 https://wonder.cdc.gov/wonder/prevguid/p0000/p0000.asp
5 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0000
Brief Answer:
Epidemiologist or virologist are the better people to answer your question
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
Even at room temperature, it depends upon the status of infected body fluids like whether it is inside a hollow needle or solid needle, inside a bottle, quantity of the body fluid etc. I am practicing HIV Medicine for more than 30 years. In 2% of my cases the source could be explained... May be due to false history also.
I am a clinician. If you want more information, You better ask a virologist or epidemiologist for exact answers for your questions.
Dr S.Murugan
Epidemiologist or virologist are the better people to answer your question
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
Even at room temperature, it depends upon the status of infected body fluids like whether it is inside a hollow needle or solid needle, inside a bottle, quantity of the body fluid etc. I am practicing HIV Medicine for more than 30 years. In 2% of my cases the source could be explained... May be due to false history also.
I am a clinician. If you want more information, You better ask a virologist or epidemiologist for exact answers for your questions.
Dr S.Murugan
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Brief Answer:
Epidemiologist or virologist are the better people to answer your question
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
Even at room temperature, it depends upon the status of infected body fluids like whether it is inside a hollow needle or solid needle, inside a bottle, quantity of the body fluid etc. I am practicing HIV Medicine for more than 30 years. In 2% of my cases the source could be explained... May be due to false history also.
I am a clinician. If you want more information, You better ask a virologist or epidemiologist for exact answers for your questions.
Dr S.Murugan
Epidemiologist or virologist are the better people to answer your question
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
Even at room temperature, it depends upon the status of infected body fluids like whether it is inside a hollow needle or solid needle, inside a bottle, quantity of the body fluid etc. I am practicing HIV Medicine for more than 30 years. In 2% of my cases the source could be explained... May be due to false history also.
I am a clinician. If you want more information, You better ask a virologist or epidemiologist for exact answers for your questions.
Dr S.Murugan
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. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
