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AIDS/Cigarette from injured HIV-positive person.

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Expert: Terry B - 5/13/2008


Question
On holiday me and my friends rented motorcycles. One of my friends slightly fall and damaged one his palm, so it was bleeding. He sucked  blood and smeared this on palm.  After blood had stopped there were relatively dry (possibly with his saliva) traces of blood on his fingers. He took a cigarette from a pack at once. After him I took one also. He could dirty neighbouring "sticks of health". Thus I checked my cigarette, the filter was white, presumably dry, without visible red traces. Then I smoked it out. Recently I came to know my friend is positive. Could you please tell what was the risk for me to contract HIV from him? Fresh blood was so close!
Thank you very much in advance.

Alex

Answer
Dear Alex:

Peace.  You are at no risk of contracting HIV from what you describe.  Direct contact with blood, semen, vaginal secretions would constitute an exposure - close proximity does not.  If you had come into contact with the blood, your risk would have been in proportion to the amount of the blood and other factors.  While required to discourage smoking by my public health training, your risk in sharing a cigarette is limited to the damage from tobacco.

Best to you and yours,

Terry

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Terry 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

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