CDC: New HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Guidelines

New clinical guidelines on HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) recommend the use of anti-HIV drugs by uninfected patients who are at substantial risk for infection. Data shows that if taken daily as directed, PrEP can reduce the risk of HIV infection by more than 90%.

In general, PrEP should be considered in HIV-uninfected patients that have any of the following indications:

Anyone who is in an ongoing sexual relationship with an HIV-infected partner
A gay or bisexual man who has had sex without a condom or has been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection within the past six months, and is not in a mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who recently tested HIV-negative
A heterosexual man or woman who does not always use condoms when having sex with partners known to be at risk for HIV (eg, injecting drug users or bisexual male partners of unknown HIV status), and is not in a mutually-monogamous relationship with a partner who recently tested HIV-negative
Anyone who has, within the past 6 months, injected illicit drugs and shared equipment or been in a treatment program for injection drug use

In 2012, the FDA approved tenofovir disoproxil fumarate 300mg and emtricitabine 200mg (Truvada; Gilead) for use as PrEP in combination with safer sex practices.

The guidelines encourage healthcare providers to promote and support the use of PrEP in addition to condoms and other risk-reduction strategies. Guideline supplements include checklists and interview guides to assist clinicians with PrEP prescribing and counseling. HIV testing before PrEP is stressed as well as testing at 3-month intervals while a patient is using PrEP is stressed.

Want to read more?