HIV Post-Exposure Prophylaxis Strategies
Summary
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) entails the prompt administration of antiretroviral agents following potential exposure to prevent viral acquisition. Clinical guidelines advocate initiation within 72 hours of exposure and completion of a 28-day course, most often combining nucleos(t)ide reverse transcriptase inhibitors with an integrase inhibitor. PEP can be delivered in occupational settings—for example, healthcare incidents—and non-occupational contexts, such as sexual or needle-sharing events. Key determinants of success include rapid access, adherence support and follow-up testing to detect seroconversion. Barriers such as low awareness, stigma and limited service coverage have spurred innovations in digital prescription platforms, community-based delivery models and integration with broader prevention strategies, including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and harm reduction programmes. Tailored approaches for key populations, decentralised service provision and task-sharing among healthcare cadres are central to scaling up PEP globally and advancing efforts to curb HIV transmission.
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HIV Post-Exposure Prophylaxis Strategies publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in hiv post-exposure prophylaxis strategies across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP): Short-term antiretroviral treatment begun after suspected HIV exposure to prevent infection.
Non-occupational PEP: PEP provided for sexual or community exposures rather than healthcare-related incidents.
Antiretroviral regimen: Combination of drugs targeting different stages of the HIV life cycle utilised in PEP.
Seroconversion: Appearance of HIV-specific antibodies in the bloodstream, marking established infection.
High-risk exposure: Incident such as unprotected anal intercourse or sharing of contaminated needles with a partner of unknown or positive HIV status.
References
- Understanding the Uptake and Outcomes of Non-occupational Postexposure Prophylaxis Use Through an Online Medical Platform in China: Web-Based Cross-sectional Study. Journal of Medical Internet Research (2023).
- Utilization of post-exposure prophylaxis potentially contributed to the changes of risk behaviors among men who have sex with men in China. Frontiers in Public Health (2024).
- Uptake and outcomes of a novel community‐based HIV post‐exposure prophylaxis (PEP) programme in rural Kenya and Uganda. Journal of the International AIDS Society (2021).
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