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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Are The Chances Of Getting HIV By A Fish Hook Prick?

I was fishing with some people and I got pricked by one of the fish hooks that someone gave me to hold. I immediately milked the puncture site and blood came out, I swabbed it with an alcohol pad I had on me. My questions is if one of the people that were fished has HIV/AIDS or HEPATITIS and was pricked by the same fish hook before I got pricked and then I got pricked, am I at risk for contracting either one of these diseases? Please help!!!!
Wed, 29 Oct 2014
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hello
After reading your query , please read this carefully .
The risk of HIV transmission following skin puncture by a sharp object ( hook in your case )that is contaminated with blood from a person with documented HIV infection is ~0.3 % ( I mentioned documented HIV infected only ~0.3 % , while in case the status of hook was not clear ) .
In , addition , the risk increase fro exposures to blood from a patient with advanced-stage disease ,presence of more virulent strains of virus .
The risk of hepatitis B virus infection following a similar type of exposure is 6 to 30 % in non-immune individuals, if a susceptible workers hook is exposed to HBV( but , as you mentioned status of hook was not known ).
So in my opinion you are not at risk of any HIV or hepatitis B because in vitro virus can't survive without blood as a medium.
So no test , no risk.
Good luck.
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HIV AIDS Specialist,  Dr. Matin Ahmad Khan's  Response
Though the probability of Hep B remains if you are not vaccinated against it , but
there is no risk for HIV as HIV does not survive beyond few minutes in the environment .
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What Are The Chances Of Getting HIV By A Fish Hook Prick?

Hello After reading your query , please read this carefully . The risk of HIV transmission following skin puncture by a sharp object ( hook in your case )that is contaminated with blood from a person with documented HIV infection is ~0.3 % ( I mentioned documented HIV infected only ~0.3 % , while in case the status of hook was not clear ) . In , addition , the risk increase fro exposures to blood from a patient with advanced-stage disease ,presence of more virulent strains of virus . The risk of hepatitis B virus infection following a similar type of exposure is 6 to 30 % in non-immune individuals, if a susceptible workers hook is exposed to HBV( but , as you mentioned status of hook was not known ). So in my opinion you are not at risk of any HIV or hepatitis B because in vitro virus can t survive without blood as a medium. So no test , no risk. Good luck.