Would Touching Inanimate Objects Increase The Risk Of Contracting HIV?

Posted on Sun, 18 Mar 2018

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

Sun, 18 Mar 2018 Answered on

Wed, 26 Apr 2023 Last reviewed on

Question : hi i was in the restroom to spit someout in the urinal and i saw something corner of my eye before I left looked back and it was still there now I looked at something far away before I left like the feront on the counter before i left the restroom now OI dont know if i made contact or not now my arm where you draw blood is hurting me now hiv test??

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Like I do not remember touching anything but my brains thinks yes??? And i think I was far away not so sure what should i do thanks

go back and recheck or no why or why not? thank you.

----------------------------------------------------------------

like I was about to go back but I did not was I smart? same thing as I was going home when i was walking about to back but did not go back to the restroom.

----------------------------------------------------------------

Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (45 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Information

Detailed Answer:

Hello,

Touching inanimate objects will not put you at risk of HIV. That virus cannot survive for long outside the body. So you can put your mind at ease that you do not need an HIV test from the scenario you described.

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Regards,
Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh
General & Family Physician

----------------------------------------------------------------

Brief Answer:
Information

Detailed Answer:

Hello,

There wouldn't be any medical metal instruments in the restroom. The surfaces in a public restroom may have a variety of germs, but HIV would not be one of them because it does not live well on surfaces.

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Regards,
Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh
General & Family Physician

----------------------------------------------------------------

Brief Answer:
Information

Detailed Answer:

Hello,

Do you mean how do I know that HIV does not live well on surfaces outside of the body? That is well established in medical literature. If you would like, I can send you links to research on this.

And why would there be medical instruments in a public restroom?

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Regards,
Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh
General & Family Physician

-----------------------------------------------------------------

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

Follow up: Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (23 minutes later)

But I don’t know if I touched anything like metal instruments

Why link left How do u know regarding the restroom

Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (1 minute later)

Brief Answer:
Information

Detailed Answer:

A restroom would be a very unlikely place for there to be metal medical instruments.

People do not get HIV except by sexual relations and by sharing needles with an infected person. The other way is if a surgeon cuts herself or other medical person cuts or stabs themselves with blood from an infected person. But people do not contract HIV from restrooms.

I am not sure what you mean by "Why link left"?

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Regards,
Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh
General & Family Physician

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

Follow up: Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (1 minute later)

Thanks but how do u know ??? Thanks the restroom was by the pool area

Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (9 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Information

Detailed Answer:

Hello,

It's really okay. It doesn't matter if you accidentally touched something on the counter. It will not cause you to get HIV. That is not how HIV is transmitted. That is a fact.

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Regards,
Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh
General & Family Physician

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

Follow up: Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (8 minutes later)

That’s what I’m saying I don’t know if I touched anything on the counter of the restroom ??

Is this blood?? I took my wash clothes out the dryer it touched that red what I sent you.

Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (37 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Information

Detailed Answer:

Hello,

No, that does not look like blood. Blood does not have as much purple color to it as what is pictured.

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Regards,
Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh
General & Family Physician

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

Follow up: Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (18 minutes later)

But my towels that I wipe my face with it touched it what should I do???

Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (10 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Information

Detailed Answer:

Hello,

Even if it was blood, which it does not appear to be, if it touched your dry towel, it will not transmit infection. Again, HIV does not live on inanimate objects.

Hope I have answered your query.

Regards,
Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh
General & Family Physician

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