Expert: Kristen Brannock, MPH - 5/4/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi,

I am extremely tense about an incident and am worrying myself to sickness. I had an exposure about one month ago and am waiting for the three month mark to get tested. But this post is not about that incident. Whatever the result be, I know I have some friends whom I can count on and they'll help me get through.

I have already been too tense during the past one month and now the following incident happened:

I was sorting a pile of documents with my mother. Many of those documents had pins attached with them (the long ones and not staple pins). After doing this for a couple of minutes, I saw that there were two minute red spots on my fingers. It is liekly that I got myself stung by one of those pins while handling the papers.

The two red sopts were extremely small, like two dot marks. The skin appeared to be broken and I would feel some pain when I rubbed those spots. However, I did not see any blood and I also did not notice when I stung myself.

I was handing over the papers to my mother and it is possible that she also stung herself with the same pins almost immediately after I stung myself.

Have I put my mother at risk? Sorry, I know that there are many "what if's" here but I am really worried about my mother.


ANSWER: HIV is not transmitted that way. I suggest that you educate yourself on how HIV is and is not transmitted so you can save yourself the anxiety.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION:
thank you for your reply. I know that once blood becomes dry then it does not pose a risk of transmission and it is why syringes are more dangerous because the blood can remain in a moist state for a longer period of time.
But even in case of solid needles like a paper pin wouldn't some time be required for the blood to become dry/ineffective. This is my point of concern.
Also I would like to ask that haven't such incidents happened in health care settings (though less frequently) where people got infected in a similar situation.

Sorry for my ignorance. Please help me.

Answer
Once again, HIV is NOT transmitted through staples or paper clips. If it were, we would all have it.


I dont know specifics about cases- that is something you would need to research on your own.

HIV is transmitted through unprotected sex, sharing needles and occasionally from mother to child. Environmental transmission is so incredibly rare that it is NOT a concern. Especially in your case.