AboutTerry B Expertise Help in assessing personal and professional risk of HIV transmission; tips in teaching about HIV/AIDS; cultural competency for teaching about HIV/AIDS in Catholic settings; considerations in US and overseas HIV/AIDS programs and education for health and other professionals. Specific questions about treatment should be referred to your health provider; opinions and information offered are not meant to replace medical advice
Experience Seven years with academic medical center and national AIDS education and training center, seven subsequent years with focus on international HIV/AIDS in East and South Africa. Former clinician, bioethics preceptor at an academic medical center and presenter in wide range of fora including international AIDS conference.
Organizations Disabled American Veterans
American Public Health Association
MENSA
AA
Publications Human Variety, EC Sociological Society
Proceedings of the International AIDS Conference, Durban, South Africa
"HIV and Primary Care"
Education/Credentials BS Psychology
MPH Master of Public Health
PhD studies underway
Awards and Honors Naval School of Health Sciences, Hospital Corps with Highest Honors, Neuropsychiatry with Honors and High Distinction
Expert: Terry B Date: 4/9/2008 Subject: Contracting HIV/AIDS
Question Hello!
I am a student nurse who also happens to suffer with OCD. While at clinical today (i'm on a psychiatric floor) I came to learn that one of the patients on the floor was HIV+. I have a large hangnail and had been touching doorknobs and chairs, but never came in actual contact with the patient. Am I at risk at contracting HIV by the doorknobs, chairs,etc.? Please help...i'm very nervous. Thank you so much!
Jule
Answer Dear Jule:
Peace. If you are dealing with OCD, you know that there is a difficult balance between healthy and irrational levels of fear and anxiety, especially about pathogens. You are best to be in counseling for this, while at the same time learning as much as you can about what constitutes significant risk.
Direct contact with blood, semen, or vaginal secretions - and in some cases, breast milk, from an infected person places you at varying degrees of risk of HIV transmission. What you describe does not constitute any significant risk, and rather than go into great detail on all the other things that don't place you at risk, I recommend you to www.thebody.com or www.avert.org to learn about HIV risk. Another option is to go to www.webmd.com, where you can learn not only about HIV but also OCD.
