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Avatar universal

Theoretical Risk Question,

hey forum, I have an interest in a theoretical possibility, Imagine this scenario,

say a drug user used a syringe in a public park,

He then proceeded to leave the syringe on the floor and leave it.

A person then walks by the some days later and lands on the syringe left by the user (two to three days for example) Would this person become infected with HIV would this classify as a "needle stick injury" Such as in a health care setting or would this differ?

I asked something similar but I'm interested in whether the virus can survive within a syringe in an outdoor environment, Would this be a possible way of "environmental transmission" in a sense?  I understand the virus is intact in a syringe and can die out, but assuming the needle was still together, would it be possibly for this to occur as a transmission,

Thankyou,
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Avatar universal
Thats actually exactly what I was after, Thankyou,
Helpful - 0
480448 tn?1426948538
In a healthcare setting, superficial needlestick injuries don't lead to infection, because the injury is not severe enough and there is not exposure to enough infectious blood.  Healthcare exposures that lead to risk involve large bore needles (unlike the subcutaneous insulin needles addicts use) like those used to start an IV or in other invasive procedures, OR injuries that involve large sharp tools (ie a scalpel).  Even phlebotomy exposures are very low risk, again because of the size (width) of the needle used.  

A person getting stuck on a needle lying around is never going to be at risk....because ....unless they pushed down on the plunger and injected the contents of the syringe into themselves, they are only being exposed to a miunute amt of blood on the SURFACE area of the needle, which cannot remain active.  

IN order for a sharps' injury to cause a risk, there 1.  has to be A SIGNIFICANT injury to the person getting jabbed...not a superficial poke....2. There HAS to be exposure to a large amount of blood and 3. the virus has to remain viable.  Without ALL of those factors in play, transmission cannot occur, period.

Kindly move along...I elaborated, even though your question was hypothetical.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
You live in an area where you just find syringes all over the ground? Just common place to find a syring?

"What if" is not a game we play. Move on.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
How so? Wouldn't the virus still be alive in an unaffected state within the syringe?
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Avatar universal
You had no risk.
Helpful - 0
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