About Lyndsay Mercier Expertise I can answer mostly any question regarding STD transmission, symptoms, and outlook.
Experience I am currently trained and certified in Sexuality Peer Education and teach an STI course at Northern Michigan University.
Organizations I am the President of a student organization known as VOX:Voices for Planned Parenthood, which is an organization focused on sexual health and reproductive freedom.
Publications I have written an article regarding teen pregnancy for www.Teenwire.com, which is due to be published on June 24th.
Education/Credentials I am currently pursuing my BS in Psychology with a double minor of Sociology and Gender Studies.
Expert: Lyndsay Mercier Date: 6/24/2008 Subject: Should I start PEP
Question I was at my gym the last evening. when came back to the canteen after my shower there was another member seated there who had hurt his finger badly and it was bleeding profusely. After about two minutes when he left from there i sat on the same table and unknowingly kept my hand there. but the minute i saw blood stains( both blood droplets and blood with water) i got up from there. but at moment i just forgot to wash my hands and ate with the same hand. although i did not see any fresh blood on my hand I am scared there might a possiblity of a droplet. There are no cuts or abrasions on my hands but what about the sandwhich i ate. what if the blood went on my sandwhich and went into my system. is there a chance of me being infected with this. i repeat i saw no blood drooping from my hand but can a li'l droplet pass through my food and infect me. please help. should i start the pep course. i yet have 48 hours at hand. please help me.
Answer Rajaram,
First of all, do you have reason to believe that the other person may be infected with something?
In any case, it would be extremely unlikely for you to catch anything this way. There wasn't any visible blood left on your hand when you ate your sandwich. Most viruses can only live outside the body for a very short period of time as well.
