Worried about HIV Transmission

[mikajames78]

Dear Docters,

I have a housemate who puts himself at risk of getting HIV due to his behaviour. He used a bar of soap to wash his penis. The reason I'm worried is because I wear contact lenses, and about 15 mins after he used the soap to wash his penis I used the soap to wash my hands and then picked up my contact lenses (with my hands) and put them into my eyes and wore the lenses for the whole day.  

Should I look to get PEP or a HIV test because of this?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Glad to help. EWH

[mikajames78]

Thanks a lot for the advice

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to our Forum.  There is absolutely zero risk of HIV from the situation you describe.  High risk behavior increases but does not guarantee that your housemate has HIV. In fact, it is probably unlikely that he does. Even in the unlikely situation that he does have HIV however, you are not at risk.  HIV is spread through sexual contact and injection of infectious material into tissue, not by touching or through indirect means such as on a bar of soap.

There is absolutely no risk to you, no need for testing and certainly no need for PEP.  EWH