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Avatar universal

For my sanity

I want to start by admitting that my questions are a product of OCD. I know that this is not a place for anxiety support. I am in the process of finding expert help for my OCD and will refrain from asking "what if" follow up questions after this post.

1. OCD induced hand washing has led to my skin cracking and bleeding which further propagates my fear because of the wounds. I work in a restaurant where I come into contact with a lot of people and their used napkins/tissues etc. I also had an episode today where I slipped in the bathroom and plunged my hand into the garbage that was full of used paper towels/tissues/toilet paper etc. I know that surface wounds are not a route of infection because of the almost immediate healing process that starts. But what if in any of those circumstances a new bleeding crack were to open up at the moment that I came into contact with a bloody tissue that had been soiled less than a minute ago. Could the virus still be active and get into my bloodstream because the healing hadn't begun? I try to put on bandaids but sometimes I'm unaware of the bleeding.

2.
a) I do Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Last class my partner dropped a large amount of mucous out of his nose onto my face and possibly in my eyes and mouth. It was pretty upsetting. Any chance of infection?
b) In a grappling sport like BJJ it's conceivable that two people might have cuts that they are unaware of that could vigorously rub against each other for some time. Risk?

3. Could sticking a dirty fingernail or other object somewhat deep into a cut be considered "deep penetration into tissue"?

4. Do you think anyone has ever been infected without having unprotected sex, sharing drug needles, HIV from mother to child or in a health care accident? Like through a needle stick in the environment? Would any event besides these warrant a test?

I'm trying to cover all the bases for the sanity of my brain but I realize life doesn't give many guarantees.
Thanks so much for any advice.
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Avatar universal
Thanks again doctor. It must be annoying to continuously answer silly questions. I can only say that having access to a venue like this with the opportunity to ask an expert in the field like yourself directly about these concerns was extremely comforting and helpful.

All the best
Helpful - 0
300980 tn?1194929400
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the Forum.  You have already mentioned that you are trouble by OCD and I must agree that the sorts of "what if" questions you ask above certainly appear to fall into the category of OCD-type concerns.  I will briefly answer them.

1.  You acknowledge your understanding that surface contact with POSSIBLY contaminated towels or tissues does not manifest a risk for HIV.  Let me remind you of the reasons you know, but also one you may not be aware of.  HIV dies very quickly on exposure to the environment.  In addition however, viruses (and bacteria) tend to "stick" to the fibers present in paper products and cloth.  Thus even in the unlikely circumstance that a moist tissue or towel had HIV on it, the virus would be more likely to stay on this tissue/towel than to be transferred to another person.  The sort of unlikely scenario that you describe would still be safe in terms of HIV transmission.

2.  There are no data to suggest that the contact of cuts with one another in sports like BJJ place participants at risk for HIV.  The theoretical risk that some might talk about is far less than the very real risk of being hit by a car while crossing the street.   Similarly, while your mucous exposure probably put you at risk for a cold or the flu, it would not put you at meaningful risk for HIV.

3.  NO!!!

4.  There have been VERY RARE environmental exposures in which used needles in the environment transferred HIV.  They are so rare as to be considered curiosities.  Most such exposures do not warrant testing although, obviously, this is a case-by case situation.

Take care.  EWH
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Avatar universal
Forgot to mention and just wanted to add to the first question that a lot of the tissues in the garbage were damp. Could the virus be infectious if not totally dry? I realize that it's very unlikely that there was any HIV positive blood or other liquid present but I just want to get all of the information off of my chest so that I don't feel the need to ask follow up "what ifs". Thanks again.
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