Is HIV Trasmission Possible Through A Broken Skin?

Posted on Sat, 12 Jul 2014

Question: I know a variation of this question has been asked hundreds of times before, but still wanted to ask, mainly for my peace of mind. I recently had contact with a door handle/frame at a fast food restaurant while I had some small abrasions on one of my fingers. After opening the door, I noticed a homeless man outside, who may have used that same door as well; is it possible that any blood he may have left on the handle entered my system via the cuts on my finger?

I only ask because all the HIV resources I've seen talk about how infection is possible via infected liquids entering through open wounds, and I'd just like a definitive answer on what "open wounds" actually means and if my situation places me at any risk.

Thank you.

Answered by Dr. Roopa Hiremath (52 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Exposure to HIV

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Welcome to health care magic.

I understand your concern regarding getting exposed to HIV.

I want to elaborate on assessment of exposure to HIV which is based on two types of codes called exposure code and status code.

This assessment is usually done for lab workers and medical staff who have a high risk of occupational exposure when dealing with samples from HIV patients and directly dealing with HIV positive individuals.

Exposure code is of three types- EC1, EC2 and EC3 based on exposure of intact skin or mucous membrane or broken skin or open wounds with volume of infected fluid and duration of exposure.

EC1 - intact skin or mucous membrane with very small volume of infected fluid and for a very small duration.

EC2 - broken skin or mucous membrane with large volume of infected fluid for a long duration.

EC3 - needle prick injury due to infected needle.

Status code is of three types - SC1, SC2 and SC unknown.

SC1 - HIV positive patient with low titers of virus or asymptomatic.

SC2 - HIV positive patient with high titers of virus or symptomatic.

SC unknown - HIV status of patient not known.

Based on the details mentioned in your query, you have had an exposure of EC1 type with SC unknown - least chance of getting exposed to HIV.

Open wounds in simple words is nothing but broken skin or not intact skin.

I suggest you quit worrying unnecessarily as there is any chance of you getting exposed to HIV by just touching a door handle used by someone whose HIV status is not known.

I hope I have cleared all your doubts.

Please get back if any more clarifications.

Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Roopa Hiremath (2 hours later)

Thanks for the quick reply, but I had a follow-up question: since I had the abrasions on my finger, wouldn't that count as "broken skin"? I've uploaded a picture of the injury if that helps.

Thank you.

Answered by Dr. Roopa Hiremath (9 hours later)

Brief Answer:
No risk of HIV

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

I understand you are anxious that you had open wounds and that might have put you at a risk of exposure to HIV. But I want to assure you that the volume of infected fluid and duration of exposure also plays an important role in determining the risk.

In your case, you are assuming that homeless man to be HIV positive, but his HIV status is not known.
Moreover, the picture you have sent shows that you have hangnails which are usually superficial wounds which heal really soon.

You have no risk at all of getting exposed to HIV by the episode you have described in your query.

I hope I have helped reduce your anxiety regarding the same.

Wishing you good health.

Thanks.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad