What Are The Chances Of HIV Transmission Through Accidental Injury During A Manicure?

Posted on Wed, 23 Dec 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 23 Dec 2015 Answered on

Fri, 8 Jan 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : Yesterday I had a manicure done the tech cut me with an electric file 3 spots. Small cut but blood did appear. What is the likelihood I could get HIV if she used the same file on a pos. person and they were cut and bleed too. another doctor I spoke to online said over 50% and I should seek medical attention

Answered by Dr. Vivek Chail (44 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Extremely rare possibility of HIV infection transmission

Detailed Answer:
Hi Vicdeflorio,
Thanks for writing in to us.

I have read through your query in detail.
Please find my observations below.

1. I am aware of a single incident reported in medical research where a 22 year old lady got HIV infection by using manicure instruments previously used by her cousin. You can read the complete article using the link given below

http://yyyyyyyyyy.yyyyyyyyyyyy.com/yyyyyyyyyyy/yyyyyyyyyyyy/10.1089/aid.2014.0264

2. The above case highlights that HIV infection can be transmitted through manicure instruments and this is a rare event.

3. It is extremely unlikely that you have been infected by HIV from the manicure yesterday but I too recommend that you seek medical attention within 72 hours from the event.

Hope your query is answered.
Please do write back if you have any doubts.

Regards,

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