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Can Contaminated Q-tip Usage Lead To HIV Infection?

Posted on Sat, 25 Mar 2017

Question: i used A q tip to clean my ear so than i notice blood on the q tip any hiv hep b,c risk

Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
No, you are not at risk.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

If the Qtip came from the container and had not been shared with someone previously, then the blood is yours, and no, there is no risk of Hepatitis B or C. And while Hepatitis C can live for a short time on inanimate objects, HIV cannot.

So, you do not have to worry. No risk.

I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (2 minutes later)

i bought the q tips from cvs and only i had access to q tips in that case i am risk free? doc

Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (2 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Information

Detailed Answer:
Yes, you are risk free. You will not get HIV, Hep B, or Hep C from this event.

It would be best to leave your ear alone for a couple of days so that it can heal. And don't go in too far with the q-tip.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (9 hours later)

my dental floss touched stuff on my kitchen counter that were not sterile so i was flossing in an area were mucus membranes are any hiv hep b,c risk since the stuff on my kitchen counter touched my dental floss in the same area were i was flossing

Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (10 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Information

Detailed Answer:
Hi -

No, this would not be a risk. As I noted earlier, HIV does not live on inanimate surfaces for very long, and Hep C can live on surfaces up to 4 days. However, Hep C would not just be hanging out on your kitchen counter without having been transmitted there. It isn't casually transmitted. Hep B requires bodily fluids too.

Sharing toothbrushes, razors, and needles, can transmit Hep C. But I would not be concerned about the kitchen counter.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (33 hours later)

i was removing the paper from the ammonia bottle in order to open the bottle and i notice that i did not remove all the paper and i was pouring the ammonia over the paper that left on the bottle to a frying pan for cleaning any hiv hep b,c risk since i am eating from the frying pan

Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
No risk.

Detailed Answer:
Hi -

The paper on the the bottle, which the ammonia poured over would not carry Hep B, C or HIV. And since I'm sure you washed the frying pan anyway, there is not any risk that you would have gotten anything.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (10 hours later)

i was shaving my chest and i had some cuts i did put a shirt on that was washed in the machine however the shirt was not turn over inside out so the outer shirt had immediate soap access rather the inside shirt any hiv hep b,c risk since the shirt had contact to my cuts + the sheets on my bed also had access to my cuts

also my finger touched the open cut after my finger came in contact to my sock any risk doc thanks!!

Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
No risk here.

Detailed Answer:
Hi -

There is no risk of HIV from touching inanimate surfaces.

According to the CDC:
Hepatitis B is spread when blood, semen, or other body fluid infected with the Hepatitis B virus enters the body of a person who is not infected. People can become infected with the virus during activities such as:
Birth (spread from an infected mother to her baby during birth)
Sex with an infected partner
Sharing needles, syringes, or other drug-injection equipment
Sharing items such as razors or toothbrushes with an infected person
Direct contact with the blood or open sores of an infected person
Exposure to blood from needlesticks or other sharp instruments

Hepatitis C is usually spread when blood from a person infected with the Hepatitis C virus enters the body of someone who is not infected. Today, most people become infected with the Hepatitis C virus by sharing needles or other equipment to inject drugs. Before 1992, when widespread screening of the blood supply began in the United States, Hepatitis C was also commonly spread through blood transfusions and organ transplants.
People can become infected with the Hepatitis C virus during such activities as
Sharing needles, syringes, or other equipment to inject drugs
Needlestick injuries in health care settings
Being born to a mother who has Hepatitis C
Less commonly, a person can also get Hepatitis C virus infection through
Sharing personal care items that may have come in contact with another person’s blood, such as razors or toothbrushes
Having sexual contact with a person infected with the Hepatitis C virus

So - as none of the situations you described fit these categories of transmission, you do not have a risk for HIV, Hep B, or Hep C.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (9 hours later)

there is no risk for hiv or hep if i scratch my self with my toe nails or finger nail and end up bleeding doc?

Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Not a risk.

Detailed Answer:
Nope, you will not infect yourself. Your nails will not be randomly carrying HIV, or hepatitis B or C.

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