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Can someone get HIV through an open wound?

This Premium Q&A, reviewed and published, features a real conversation between an iCliniq user and a physician.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

I am contacting you regarding the current horrible experience with the healthcare system. The nurse who stabbed me in the vein around seven times with a needle had an open wound on her hand and no gloves. Even when he took out the needle and applied the band-aid, he had no gloves. Worst of all, I got a big bleed on my arm in the middle of the process and the nurse with an open wound on his hand pushed hard to stop the bleeding without gloves. How big is the risk of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) or hepatitis C in this case? My biggest concern is HIV because he had several wounds on his arm and hand. When I searched on the internet now his wounds look like HIV or AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) sores. What is the risk for HIV in this case? Kindly suggest.

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Although the chances of acquiring HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) through such exposure are extremely low, there is definitely a risk. If you can revisit him, then you can ask for his testing in order to relieve your anxiety, which is going to persist for weeks.

Thank you.

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

Thank you for the reply.

I asked the nurse to take tests which he refused. This makes me even more worried, could it be that he has HIV and does not want it to come out? Anyway, I will get tested when it is been five weeks. I will retake it even after 12 weekends, but I cannot wait for 12 weeks now feeling so bad. I have two questions: How accurate is the test after five weeks? How big is the risk of infection in this case? I know that there are approximate percentages for different cases, however how big is the risk in my case?

Hi, Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Test is around 97 percent accurate at five weeks. The risk of infection is not more than 0.1 percent.

Regards.

Medically reviewed byiCliniq medical review team

Published At April 1, 2023
Reviewed AtJune 24, 2025

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