Expert: Terry B - 4/18/2009

Question
I am a teacher, and I have some students that pick at sores frequently. If they get blood on their fingers and touch a fresh papercut or hangnail on my hand, is there a risk of HIV transmission? The other day, one of my students who had been picking at his sores touched my hand that had a hangnail that had dried blood on it. He did not touch the area directly, but if he had, would I be at risk? When I squeezed it, it bled. I may have touched the hangnail to something he touched. Thank you for your help!

Answer
Dear A:

Peace.  HIV is not easily transmitted.  Two great sites for information are www.thebody.com and www.avert.org - both can help give you sufficient information to answer most questions about HIV and transmission.

Depending on the place where you teach, the HIV prevalence rate - how many students are infected - varies, but in the US is almost always quite low, especially among children as preventing mother-to-child transmission has been a priority (see www.cdc.gov).  In the rare case where a child might be infected - or for that matter, an adult - the factors which lead an exposure (direct contact with HIV infected blood, semen, or vaginal secretions) to become an infection include:
1) Amount of fluid to which you are exposed - in the cases you cite, small.
2) Duration of the exposure - how long you're exposed to the fluid - as in the case of receptive sex where you are exposed longer.
3) Route - is there an open wound, sore, lesion that could allow the fluid to access your bloodstream?  
4) Frequency of exposure...

etc....

Bottom line, as a manager of teachers presently, I would suggest a teachable moment to talk with students (faculty and staff as well) about good hygiene.  I don't see you as being at risk of HIV transmission in what you describe.

If after visiting the recommended sites above, you still have questions, I will be happy to help.

Best to you and yours,

Terry