Understanding HIV Drug Interactions: Risks and Dietary Considerations
HIV drug interactions Hello, doctor. I have a couple of questions: 1. Is there a risk of ineffectiveness or reduced efficacy when switching medications? I am switching from Odefsey® film-coated tablets to Biktarvy 50/25/200 mg tablets. 2. Do food items like milk and soy milk,...
Dr. Gao Jiankai Reply:
Hello, thank you for your inquiry. For questions related to HIV medications, it is recommended to consult an infectious disease specialist. The Allergy, Immunology, and Rheumatology Department of Changhua Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, is here to support you.[Read More] Understanding HIV Drug Interactions: Risks and Dietary Considerations
Understanding HIV Transmission Risks in Everyday Situations
Risk of HIV Infection Hello, doctor. I work in the service industry, and today a machine in the store broke down. When the repair technician came to fix it, I noticed he had an open wound on his finger that hadn't scabbed over. I asked him what happened, and he said he accid...
Dr. Hong Yuanbin Reply:
Hello, 1. Splashing on my clothes and hands does not transmit HIV. 2. Contact between hands and other parts of clothing does not transmit HIV. 3. Having acne that is scratched and becomes a wound does not transmit HIV. 4. Touching a handle or a drainage ditch does not transm...[Read More] Understanding HIV Transmission Risks in Everyday Situations
Essential Questions About HIV Transmission and Prevention
Basic HIV Transmission Issues Hello, I am person 178279 and I have a few basic questions about HIV transmission: 1. If I touch someone else's blood with my hands and forget to wash them before going to the restroom, is there a risk of infection? 2. If my phone comes into ...
Dr. Hong Yuanbin Reply:
Hello, 1. General skin contact does not transmit HIV. 2. You can simply wipe with tissue paper. 3. Ordinary wounds do not typically get infected with HIV and can be disinfected with povidone-iodine. 4. Regular wounds are unlikely to become infected with HIV. 5. Just be careful no...[Read More] Essential Questions About HIV Transmission and Prevention
Understanding HIV Transmission Risks: Needle Safety and Blood Sugar Monitoring
HIV infection Hello, Doctor. I have two questions: 1. If a silver needle accidentally pricked a family member with HIV and was not disinfected, and then I accidentally pricked myself with it again after one day, is there a risk of transmission? 2. I have high blood sugar and c...
Dr. Hong Yuanbin Reply:
Hello, 1. The amount of blood and virus residue on a needle cannot be generalized; however, under normal circumstances, all needles used by the general public are disposable, so this situation should not occur. 2. As long as the needle is changed, there should be no risk of infec...[Read More] Understanding HIV Transmission Risks: Needle Safety and Blood Sugar Monitoring
Understanding HIV Testing and PEP: Key Questions Answered
HIV testing Hello, I am spokesperson number 178234. Thank you, doctor. I have a few more questions. In the previous message, it was stated that 1 copy equals 1.67 IU, so 33 IU equals approximately 19.76 copies. Question 1: I took PEP within 72 hours of exposure. The test is sch...
Dr. Hong Yuanbin Reply:
Hello, 1. PEP can reduce the rate of infection, but it is unlikely to affect the accuracy of testing, so the results should still be reliable. 2. PEP should not significantly impact the interpretation of test results. 3. After PEP, dietary habits can return to normal. Thank...[Read More] Understanding HIV Testing and PEP: Key Questions Answered
Understanding HIV Viral Load: How Many Copies/ml After 14 Days or 1 Month?
HIV Testing How many viral copies per milliliter can be detected in an HIV-infected individual after 14 days or one month? What is the approximate viral load during that time?
Dr. Hong Yuanbin Reply:
Hello, the viral load in the body after an infection can vary significantly due to differences in individual immune responses, making it difficult to generalize. Thank you for your question.[Read More] Understanding HIV Viral Load: How Many Copies/ml After 14 Days or 1 Month?
Understanding HIV Testing: Detection Limits and Measurement Units Explained
HIV Testing Hello, I would like to ask about my HIV PCT blood test results, which show no infection. However, the report states "HIV detection limit: 33 IU/mL, Roche Cobas 6800 System. (1 copy = 1.67 IU)." I want to know that the current medical detection limit is 20 co...
Dr. Hong Yuanbin Reply:
Hello, "copy" and "copies" have the same meaning and refer to the PCR test index. The equivalence of one copy to IU can vary depending on the instruments or reagents used, so it is necessary to consult the physician at the hospital to understand that the minim...[Read More] Understanding HIV Testing: Detection Limits and Measurement Units Explained
Can HIV Survive in Semen on Surfaces? Understanding Infection Risks
HIV infection Is it possible to contract HIV if a doctor steps on or touches semen in the restroom? (Approximately half an hour) I am unsure how long the HIV virus can survive in semen.
Dr. Hong Yuanbin Reply:
Hello, the HIV virus cannot be transmitted through skin contact, so the situation you described would not result in HIV infection. Thank you for your question.[Read More] Can HIV Survive in Semen on Surfaces? Understanding Infection Risks
Risk of Infection from Blood Exposure During Vaccination: What You Need to Know
Blood infection Hello, doctor. Following up on the previous question, during vaccination, due to the high number of people, the nurse did not follow the standard disinfection procedures. It was also noticed that there was blood on her hands (unknown whose it was) during the injec...
Dr. Liao Zhongxin Reply:
1. During the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers have been busy administering vaccines, which may lead to lapses in following standard disinfection protocols; however, wearing gloves and practicing proper hand hygiene can suffice. 2. Even in the case of HIV-positive individu...[Read More] Risk of Infection from Blood Exposure During Vaccination: What You Need to Know
Understanding HIV Testing: Interpreting Results and Common Concerns
HIV screening Hello, Dr. Hong! I previously mentioned the HIV Ag/Ab Combo test result of 0.33, which is negative. 1. Is it normal for healthy individuals to have such a result? 2. Can someone have a result of 0? 3. What does a result of 0.33 indicate in terms of impurities? I apo...
Dr. Hong Yuanbin Reply:
Hello, 1. Normal individuals can also experience this. 2. No one is immune to it. 3. Substances other than viruses, such as blood and bodily fluids, are considered impurities in this reagent, so please don't worry. Thank you for your inquiry.[Read More] Understanding HIV Testing: Interpreting Results and Common Concerns
Risk of Infection from Contaminated Vaccine Injection: What You Need to Know
Viral infection If the nurse did not follow the standard hand hygiene protocols due to a high number of patients and you noticed blood on their hands during the injection (unknown whose blood it was), the risk of infection depends on several factors, including the presence of vir...
Dr. Hong Yuanbin Reply:
Hello, based on your description, the presence of blood stains on the skin, whether related to Hepatitis B or HIV, typically involves infection through needles entering the bloodstream. In your case, the risk of infection is very low, and no special treatment is necessary. Thank ...[Read More] Risk of Infection from Contaminated Vaccine Injection: What You Need to Know
How Long Does HIV Survive in Semen Outside the Body?
HIV infection 1. How long can the HIV virus survive in semen outside the body? 2. Is there a risk of HIV transmission for the next person using the restroom after someone has masturbated and left semen there? It is known that the HIV virus in blood dies in approximately a few m...
Dr. Hong Yuanbin Reply:
Hello, regarding the survival time of HIV in semen outside the body, it depends on the patient's viral load and the cellular content in the semen, so it cannot be generalized. As for the question, "Is there a risk of HIV from semen in a restroom after masturbation?"...[Read More] How Long Does HIV Survive in Semen Outside the Body?
Understanding HIV Ag/Ab Combo Test Results: What Does a 0.33 Mean?
HIV testing issues Hello, the result of the HIV Ag/Ab Combo screening test shows Negative. Interpretation criteria: Negative: S/CO < 1.00; Positive: S/CO ≥ 1.00. The value of 0.33 indicates that it is below the threshold for a positive result, suggesting no signs of infection.
Dr. Hong Yuanbin Reply:
Hello, all reagents, including the HIV Ag/Ab Combo, can be influenced by various impurities or bodily fluids, which may result in baseline values, such as your 0.33. Therefore, all reagents will indicate that a value must exceed a certain threshold to be considered positive rathe...[Read More] Understanding HIV Ag/Ab Combo Test Results: What Does a 0.33 Mean?
Concerns About Bloodborne Disease Transmission During Blood Draws
During blood draw, healthcare personnel directly touch the bleeding wound? Today, I went to the hospital for a blood draw to perform a glucose tolerance test, which required four blood draws within two hours. However, during the fourth blood draw, when the healthcare worker remov...
Dr. Hong Yuanbin Reply:
Hello, based on your description, typically after drawing blood from a patient, healthcare personnel will disinfect their hands with alcohol before drawing from the next patient, so it should not lead to the transmission of infectious diseases. Thank you for your question.[Read More] Concerns About Bloodborne Disease Transmission During Blood Draws
Risk of Infection from Blood Exposure During Blood Draws: What You Should Know
#177943 During blood draw, healthcare personnel directly touched the bleeding wound? Thank you for the doctor's response earlier. However, I would like to ask, if the nurse did not properly perform hand hygiene and, as mentioned in the previous question, had fresh blood from...
Dr. Hong Yuanbin Reply:
Hello, viruses can only survive in living cells. Dried blood does not support the survival of the HIV virus, so the scenario you proposed would not lead to infection. Thank you for your question.[Read More] Risk of Infection from Blood Exposure During Blood Draws: What You Should Know
Understanding HIV Antigen Testing: Clarifying Misconceptions and Feedback
Continuation #177811 HIV Infection Doctor, you explained everything very clearly and responded quite quickly. I really want to give you a five-star rating for both satisfaction and response, but I accidentally submitted the wrong rating due to my clumsiness. I wonder if there is ...
Dr. Hong Yuanbin Reply:
Hello, the HIV virus cannot survive outside of cells for an extended period on surfaces like test strips. Most cells die quickly, making it difficult for the virus to remain viable, so it has almost no infectious potential. Thank you for your inquiry regarding satisfaction; I app...[Read More] Understanding HIV Antigen Testing: Clarifying Misconceptions and Feedback
Understanding HIV Anxiety: Risks and Testing Concerns Explained
HIV infection Doctor, I sincerely apologize for bothering you. However, I feel like I have been experiencing quite severe anxiety related to the fear of intimacy. Over three months ago, I was splashed by toilet water in a public restroom, and later, I purchased a rapid HIV test k...
Dr. Hong Yuanbin Reply:
Hello, HIV is primarily transmitted through sexual contact and needle sharing. The situations you mentioned are not recognized transmission routes for HIV, and there have been no reported cases of HIV infection due to the scenarios you hypothesized. Please do not worry, and thank...[Read More] Understanding HIV Anxiety: Risks and Testing Concerns Explained
Concerns About HIV Infection After Blood Glucose Testing: What You Need to Know
Fear of contracting HIV/AIDS? Hello, doctor! I just went to the pharmacy to buy a blood glucose meter, and the pharmacist was helping me test it. He said there were no lancets inside, so he tried it on himself first, and then it was my turn to try. I ended up bleeding! I realized...
Dr. Lin Wuxuan Reply:
Hello: If you and the pharmacy staff have both been pricked by the same needle, it is recommended to visit the family medicine outpatient department at a hospital. Please inform the attending physician of your situation in detail; they will arrange appropriate tests and follow-up...[Read More] Concerns About HIV Infection After Blood Glucose Testing: What You Need to Know
Understanding Syphilis Treatment Outcomes: RPR Test Results Explained
Issues with test results three months after syphilis treatment? Hello Doctor: I tested positive for syphilis with an RPR of 1:16 in mid-October last year. After a month of treatment with Doxycycline, I had a follow-up blood test three months later, and the result was RPR Negative...
Dr. Hong Yuanbin Reply:
Hello, 1. According to the treatment guidelines, after 3-6 months, if the RPR (Rapid Plasma Reagin) test can drop to 1/4, it indicates a good treatment response. Of course, the lower the value, the better. Therefore, your negative result is possible and suggests that the treatm...[Read More] Understanding Syphilis Treatment Outcomes: RPR Test Results Explained
Accidental Needle Stick: What You Need to Know About HIV Prevention
Accidentally pricked by a needle? I accidentally got pricked by a contaminated needle on the night of January 3rd, and I saw a doctor on January 5th to take post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for HIV. I have a few questions: 1. How long should I take the PEP medication? 2. How lon...
Dr. Liao Zhongxin Reply:
1. Since you have been potentially exposed to an infected individual through a needle stick injury, please follow your physician's instructions and complete a one-month course of medication. 2. The previous standard procedure involved blood tests on the same day, at one an...[Read More] Accidental Needle Stick: What You Need to Know About HIV Prevention