title: Nonoccupational post-exposure prophylaxis source tracing: is it really feasible in Australia?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A Swiss nonoccupational post-exposure prophylaxis (NPEP) source-tracing study successfully reduced unnecessary NPEP prescriptions by recruiting and testing source partners of unknown HIV serostatus. The Victorian NPEP Service in Australia attempted to replicate this study with the addition of HIV rapid testing and a mobile service.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients presenting to two busy NPEP sites who reported a source partner of unknown HIV status were routinely asked if their source could be traced. If the exposed person indicated that their source partner was traceable they were asked to contact them and discuss the possibility of having an HIV test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No sources were enrolled and the study was terminated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We hypothesize that there are a number of differences between Australia and Switzerland that make source tracing unfeasible in Australia.
authors.affiliation: Victorian NPEP Service, Infectious Diseases Unit, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Vic, Australia.
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Pierce
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Armishaw
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Price
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Dax
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Fairley
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Hoy
mesh_terms: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000600:supply & distribution* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D016358:Contact Tracing / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018579:Patient Selection; D056990:Post-Exposure Prophylaxis / Q000191:economics / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D012747:Sexual Partners; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology; D014739:Victoria / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents