Expert: Terry B - 8/10/2008

Question
I would like to ask you to be so kind to answer my question. 2 days ago I found our neighbour(social case, has many sexual relationships, is a drinker, often found on the street) laying on the floor. I tried to help him to stand up (he was drunk, bagged me for help), during this I got into the contact with his blood, over my legs, hands, dress and shoes). I stepped into the flat(the flat of my grandmother) and I think that I contaminated the carpet as the blood was on my shoes. I washed myself, but only with antibacterial soap, didn´t have proprior desinfication. Then came home and I am afraid, that I brought the infection even here by blood on my shoes. I would like to ask you: Can I be infected by HIV? I didn ´t have openen wounds, but small everydays scratches on my hands? Could I brought the infection into grandmother´s home by my shoes? I m afraid that she is going to be HIV positive as well(because she is very old and was touching everything around, she is has got dementia, so she didni´t understand the situation)? Could I brought the infection on my shoes home(I came in around 10m). Plesae be so kind and tell, I can not eat, neither sleep, can not think about anything else. Thank you very much for your time! Catherine

Answer
Dear Catherine:

Peace.  By your description, it appears you may have been exposed to the blood of a person whom you see as at risk of HIV infection.  The real risk is in the contact with the fluid - blood, semen, vaginal secretions - so I can't see your grandmother as being at risk from something on your shoes.  The amount of fluid, the condition of the area (skin, mucosa) exposed, all factor into risk.  Washing the carpet or places where you left bloody footprints (if that is the case) would reduce risk, and antibacterial soap should be sufficient to reduce your risk by removing potentially infectious fluids.

Neighbor may or may not have been infected with HIV, sounds also at risk of Hepatitis, which is more easily transmitted than HIV.  His fluids - how much? - came in contact with your clothing and at least the skin on your hands.  I would assume the amount of blood to which you were exposed was relatively small (splatters) rather than massive bleeding.  If you tracked bloody footprints into your grandmother's flat, I assume you would have at least wiped them up to some extent.

So... the fluids are from someone who's status is unknown.  Although we should always protect as though the person were positive, the percentages of an unknown exposure being HIV + are always less than 100%.  Secondly, the exposure is to a small amount of fluid on generally intact skin.  This would suggest minimal to no risk in what you describe.  Third, this is one exposure and you washed almost immediately afterwards - meaning your frequency of exposure is perhaps one, and the duration of the contact limited.

I don't see you being in significant danger of contracting HIV even if the neighbor is infected; I don't see your grandmother as being at ANY risk, assuming you didn't track in pools of blood and leave them on the floor.  As for potential exposure to Hepatitis, which I think is a concurrent risk here, I would talk to your doctor and ask about testing.

Thank you for assisting your neighbor in need, and in the future, try to use something - if not gloves, at least a newspaper or something to further reduce the blood to which you are exposed.

Best to you and yours,

Terry