can you get HIV by touching a wound?

Question

I work at a nursing home and come in contact with few (not many, but there are once every while) people with HIV. When I do I come in contact with their blood (when they have bloody nose, or get cuts) and I am worried about becoming infected. I do wear gloves but I can't guarantee 100% that it doesn't smudge on my arm or hand. Is it possible to get HIV by touching someone's blood?

Answer 1

Without adequate precaution, the possibility is high. HIV virus are best transmitted by body fluids and a wound is a source of body fluids-blood and exudates. Chances are on its peak if you got any cuts or wounds then touches wound of an HIV infected without sufficient barriers or precautions. Without any wound, you cannot tell that it won't harm you, you got lots of pores in your skin so you cannot be completely reassured.You got to be extra careful too from accidentally getting any body fluids directly to your eyes and mouth area.
Be keen in every precautions you are supposed to do. Double gloving should always be emphasized. Be careful and be sure that the gloves got no any pricks. (Keep your nails short always as long and sharp nails have high tendency of "breaking" the gloves. If you got any cuts, adequate dressings should be applied. (Adding extra plaster around any cut in your finger will help to increase your safety.) Donning a gown properly must also be given stress.

Above all, always be conscious and alert to what you are doing. As long as you are making everything done in appropriate manner then there is nothing to be worried that much. Some HIV patients are sometimes not in good minds so you are required to be at the "peak of alertness and consciousness."

Answer 2

You would only be able to get it if there was a rip/cut in your gloves and an open wound directly under this cut in the gloves. The chances of both of these occuring is very minimal so its unlikely that you could contract HIV.

If you happened to prick yourself with an HIV infected needle, squeeze the area and then run under cold water. Do not suck the wound. If you have anti-retroviral treatment available start this as soon as possible and then you need to go for a test after the "window period" is over (roughly 6 months).

If you follow the correct precautions howevere you should not conract HIV.

Answer 3

As long as you have on your bsi [body, substance, isolation] and or gloves it protects you from direct contact with the blood. If you get some on your arm or hand don't panic just simply wash it off with soap and water. To make you feel even better use alcohol after washing. To catch the disease you would really have to have an open wound or cut that the infected blood came in contact with. Your eyes are a direct contact to your blood stream so protect them when around those patients. Ask your work if they have any blood borne pathogen tapes or DVDs you can watch. PS I'm a firefighter.

Answer 4

If you touch the blood of an HIV infected person wash your hands immediatly with soap and hot water. HIV can not live outside the body for very long and does not hang on to soap. Even while wearing gloves, when you are done do a surgeans scrub, from the tips of fingers to the elbows to insure protection.

Answer 5

Yes, it is quite possible. Even if there are many small cuts in your skin especially, its possible for the HIV virus to enter your body.

In India doctors and nurses refuse to treat HIV patients. But the government forces them to treat those patients siting HIV cannot be transmitted by treatment.

There was true story about a HIV patient who wanted to take revenge on others and kept HIV infected needles in the seats of a theater. All those who sat on those seats have contacted HIV, without their fault.

The HIV patients sometimes are in a very bad mood, one may never know what;s up in their mind.

Answer 6

As long as your using UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONS you shouldnt have anything to worry about. The HIV virus is very weak outside the body and lives for an incredibly short amount of time once it exits the body.

Second question I have for you, how do you know there have been residents with HIV at your nursing home? HIV is one of the biggest no-no you could release from the patients record. NO ONE can get the patients information about HIV unless it is in direct correlation to the services they are providing.

Answer 7

Contracting HIV requires actually permitting HIV-infected fluids into the body. Undamaged skin should be resistant to HIV infection. If, on the other hand, you have cuts or open wounds in the area where HIV-infected fluids have made contact, you should seek medical attention post haste.

Answer 8

You can't get HIV through skin contact. You can only get HIV through direct contact of an infected substance with your own mucous membranes (your own open wound, mouth, nose, sex organs, etc.,). Just wash your skin with disinfectant soap after exposure, and you'll be alright.

Just as an extra precaution, I'd recommend getting an annual HIV test. This should ease your mind significantly.

Answer 9

Their blood the virus has to enter your body through an opening either a cut, or a mucous membrane. To make sure you don't have it get tested, and then keep on top of wearing gloves and always washing your hands and arms very well.

Answer 10

YES! and the best way to protect your self is double glove. don't tough without full protection(gloves, gown, goggles. booties on shoes). I wouldn't care how I looked I would not go near anyone without protection who was HIV that was bleeding! its okay to be near HIV person, its not contagious to talk or hug or shake hand, but if they are bleeding, you need to protect yourself! if you have an opened wound and there blood touches your wound, you can be infected. you need to talk to your supervisor, and if your a nurse you should know the universal precautions.good luck, hope your okay.