Can HIV Be Transmitted By Sharing The Same Towels With HIV Positive People?

Posted on Thu, 28 Sep 2017

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

Thu, 28 Sep 2017 Answered on

Tue, 24 Oct 2017 Last reviewed on

Question : I breastfeed my 5m old and earlier i wiped down my breast with a towel. After feeding baby i realized that towel was used by my MIL who is HIV+. Any risk of HIV? My nipples are cracked and bleeding due to feeding. Im not sure if the towel had blood or body fluids on it but i know she recently used it for a cut she had on her hand. Im uneasy about this as i do not want to catch this disease as well as my baby either.

Answered by Dr. Ivo Ditah (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
No risk of HIV infection here!

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

The HIV germ doesn't survive out of living organisms. The chances to contract HIV from this scenario is extremely low and almost impossible. I will not recommend any testing for this. If it were this easy to get infected, almost everyone would have been HIV+ at this time.

I hope this reliefs you of your worries. I wis you well and feel free to follow up with me if need be.

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

Follow up: Dr. Ivo Ditah (7 minutes later)

Thank you for getting bak with me. I actually have one more question in regards with my babies jumper and toys. She has been jumping in her jumper for about a month now. Well i have not washed it as i forgot to when we got it from the store. I just noticed today that there were a few spots on it that looked like dry blood. Is she at all in risk of any diseases here? She always puts it in her mouth.

Answered by Dr. Ivo Ditah (7 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
NO!

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Germs do not survive on dry blood. There is no reason to get worried. Appears you have heightened concerns about germs but it is a lot difficult to contract germs that you seem to believe.

I wish you and your baby well.

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