Postexposure prophylaxis after sexual exposure to HIV.
OBJECTIVE
HIV postexposure prophylaxis is often recommended following potential sexual exposure to HIV. Recent data address the effectiveness of postexposure prophylaxis and prevention counseling, cost-effectiveness, antiretroviral options, challenges with nonoccupational postexposure prophylaxis among adolescents and children and following sexual assault in high HIV prevalence areas, and a successful program in Amsterdam.


RESULTS
Postexposure prophylaxis is not completely protective. Seroconversion may result from antiretroviral failure or from ongoing exposures. Postexposure prophylaxis associated risk reduction counseling results in reductions in subsequent risk behavior. Programs that target outreach and limit prescriptions to those with exposure sources who are at risk of being HIV infected are cost-effective. Less restrictive guidelines result in more prescriptions for low-risk exposures; this practice is not cost-effective. The ideal antiretrovirals for postexposure prophylaxis use have not been established. Tenofovir has several attractive properties. Developing systems to support the effective delivery of postexposure prophylaxis among children and adolescents and following sexual assault in high HIV prevalence, resource limited settings is challenging.


CONCLUSIONS
Numerous national and international guidelines recommend postexposure prophylaxis following potential sexual exposure to HIV. Maximizing adherence and minimizing subsequent HIV exposures will be critical to enhancing the effectiveness of this HIV prevention intervention.
Roland
Michelle E
ME
Positive Health (AIDS) Program at San Francisco General Hospital, University of California, San Francisco, California 94110, USA. mroland@php.ucsf.edu
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000635:transmission
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents