Expert: Terry B - 5/2/2009

Question
Hi Terry,

Thank you so much for the great job that you are doing.
I had a few incidents where I shake people hands when I have a small scratch or cut on my hands, for instance, today I cut my hand while I am working in the back yard, it was very small cut, it bled very little, 10-15 minutes later two of my friends came over and we shake hands, one of them has sweaty hands but both didn't have cuts or fresh cuts at least as far as I could see.
Is there any chance for HIV transmission in such a scenario?
Am I over reacting? is there any documented case where touching somebody with small cut in hand caused a transmission?

I really appreciate your help in calming my fear down.

Thank you Terry.


Answer
Dear Armando:

Peace, and thank you for your question.  HIV is transmitted primarily by contact with the blood, semen, vaginal secretions, or - in the case of 20 % of nursing infants - the breast milk of an infected person.  While injecting a small amount of blood into you (such as with shared syringe and injection equipment) puts you at great risk, there is no case I have heard of where casual contact led to infection.

HIV is not easily transmitted.  The virus is more likely to infect where sores and lesions are present, if there is a lot of infectious fluid, it is present often, and for a long time.  This is part of why a person who is receptive in intercourse is at greater risk.

More information about HIV will help you with this and other questions, and I encourage you to be well versed enough to be a resource to your loved ones and community.  www.thebody.com is a good site with links to more.

Best to you and yours, no risk apparent, and thanks again.

Terry