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Bled On Transmission

I'm a 29 year old Canadian male and had two incidences of concern.

In late December while diving in Australia, I was bled on by a male diving instructor while getting geared up. The instructor's wound wasn't a gushing wound and I don't think I had any major cuts. I did have some coral cuts on my ankle from diving two days previous and I have acne and body acne which produces light lesions. However, during diving and showering, I didn't notice or feel any major cuts. I'm reasonably sure I didn't get any blood in my eyes or mouth.

My gym has little lockers with keys with safety pins that enable the keys to be pinned on clothing. I gouged myself with the safety pin because the previous user left the safety pin undone. I didn't bleed profusely but I was definitely pricked. I forgot to check if there was any blood on the pin. This incident stands out because the safety pin has a higher chance of being "tainted".

What are the major and serious blood born diseases? HIV and Hepatitis C?

Am I at risk for HIV or Hepatitis C or anything else? Should I get tested?

Are both HIV and Hepatitis C tests accurate within 3 months? Does Hepatitis C takes 6 months?

Does it matter what medications I am on and will they effect test accuracy? I don't want to belabor your with all my meds but I take hair loss and acne medications as well as some cough, cold and flu medications.

Generally, if I avoid IV drug use, getting pricked by IV needles or unprotected sex am I safe from HIV, Hepatitis C and other blood born diseases? Is environmental transmission and household contact ( sharing razors, toothbrushes, utensils and nail clippers ) considered no risk for transmission? Is it true HIV survives poorly in the environment but Hepatitis C survives quite well?

I just want some reasonable guidance of what I really need to be concerned about.

Thanks
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936016 tn?1332765604
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Good Morning

If you decide to test then I would suggest testing for Hep C and HIV and also Hep B immunity.

You do seem rather nervous about all this - I really don't think you need to be.

If you have been immunised against hepatitis B and have sufficient immunity then Hep B will not be an issue for you.

Regarding oral gonorrhoea and chlamydia - no, I'm afraid that applies to heterosexuals of both genders as to men who have sex with other males.

best wishes, Sean
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi

Thanks for the response. I just have a few more questions.

In my younger days, I used to borrow my brother's razor. My brother is a "normal" person so I'm quite confident I'm in the clear. However I might go for testing for some peace of mind. Is Hep C and HIV testing sufficient? There's no other blood born illnesses to be concerned about?

Besides the other behaviors mentioned previously and not sharing toothbrushes or razors, are there other precautions I should take to avoid acquiring blood born diseases? Sharing toothbrushes or razors does seems obvious and unhygienic.

So for testing, accuracy will NOT be affected by the medications I am on? I take hair loss and acne medications as well as some cough, cold and flu medications.

I was reading some information on Hep C and HIV co-infection and how it effects testing. From what I understand, having Hep C can effect the accuracy of the HIV test. So if someone goes for a HIV and Hep C test after 3 months and is negative for both, all is clear and accurate? Not having Hep C ensures the validity of the HIV test?

Does that only go one way? i.e. Having HIV does not effect the accuracy of the Hep C test. It would be distressing if HIV and Hep C mutually suppresses the accuracy of each others tests. Therefore a healthcare worker's neddlestick injury would force someone to wait a year for the all clear.

I think I was immunized for Hep B when I was 11. I was reading that the immunization isn't perfect. Should I be concerned about Hep B? I was thinking about getting the Twinrix vaccination.

I was poking around your blog and noticed you mentioned Oral or Throat gonorrhea. Is that only a concern for a person who performs oral sex on a male? I'm heterosexual so I have only performed oral sex on females. Does that mean I'm "safe" in that regard?
Helpful - 0
936016 tn?1332765604
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Golly, you do seema bit accident prone, don't you?!

I don't think either of these epiosdes puts you at risk of HIV transmission or Hep C transmission.

The likelihood of the diving instructor being HIV positive and you then acquiring this from a random speculative exposure is as near to zero as is possible. I think the same from Hep C.

With respect to the pin prick episode, I think this is equally unlikely to contaminate you.

HIV is fragile and does not survive for any length of time when dried, subject to temperature changes etc. It needs ideal conditions to be transmitted.

Hep C is more hardy and will survive temperature change, inadequate sterilisation etc but the chances of a sufficient amount being present on a safety pin needle and you then acquiring it is I think, fanciful.

Should you get tested? No - I wouldn't. I don't consider this to be a risk or threat to you.

Would the tests be accurate at 3 months? Yes, they would.

"Generally, if I avoid IV drug use, getting pricked by IV needles or unprotected sex am I safe from HIV, Hepatitis C and other blood born diseases?"

This statement is correct.

"Is environmental transmission and household contact ( sharing razors, toothbrushes, utensils and nail clippers ) considered no risk for transmission?"

I would not consider sharing razors and toothbrushes to be normal household contact and no, in the case of Hep C I would not be comfortable with this as a zero risk activity.

best regards, Sean

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
yes if you take a test at 3 months you would get a 100% real answer.

yes if you avoid those things your going to be safe.



using those products dont posses a risk unless they've been recently use and then you use them and you have a cut but thats unlikely still.


it does survive poorly but you just never know.



everytime you have any type of sexual contact use protection and always check yourself for any cuts or things like that.check your mouth too.
Helpful - 0

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