Can HIV Be Transmitted Through Accidental Contact Of Infected Fluid With Skin?
Some information:
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
Different microorganisms need different conditions to survive. HIV needs tissue or certain body fluids to survive. While HIV can live for a limited time on dried blood, HIV does not survive long outside the human body (such as on surfaces), and it cannot reproduce outside a human host. The life span of HIV outside of the body has not been determined. But in general, other than on items like a razor or syringe/needles, HIV doesn't survive long on surfaces without some tissue or body fluids.
The Hepatitis C virus, however, can survive outside the body at room temperature, on environmental surfaces, for up to 3 weeks. It can also be spread by sharing shaving razors, and of course, needles. And eating utensils
Your question about touching fluid on a surface and then touching an open wound is a good one. Universal precautions are still recommended when dealing with surfaces potentially contaminated with HIV and HCV.
The thought about the razor is that it may contain some blood/tissue that may be harboring viruses.
I thought that you might find the following article helpful: http://www.aidsmap.com/Survival-outside-the-body/page/0000/
I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information or clarification.
thank you
Question:
Detailed Answer:
Were you in an environment where there was known blood or body fluids or HIV or HCV lab specimens there?
You are safe then.
Detailed Answer:
I think you are quite safe from HIV given the literature.
HCV can survive on surfaces, but given that you rinsed your hands, and the very low risk of picking up trace amounts from surfaces in the work place (assuming you are not working in the health field where you are handling HCV specimens), I think you are safe. The risk is for someone cleaning up a blood spill, etc.