title: Pre-exposure prophylaxis of HIV: A right way to go or a long way to go?
abstract: Antiretroviral drugs are being tried as candidates for the pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) against HIV for a considerable period, due to their potential for immediate inhibition of viral replication. Discrepancies in the findings called for a critical review of the relevant efforts and their outcomes. A systematic literature search identified 143 eligible articles of which only 5 reported complete findings while another 11 were still on-going. Observed moderate efficacy and good safety profile seemed to identify PrEP as a promising step for minimizing the spread of HIV to relatively unaffected population and controlling the epidemic among high risk population groups. But the duration of this efficacy was found to depend heavily on the availability, adherence and other related issues like cost, political commitment, ethical consideration etc. To prevent potential cultural and behavioral modifications, proper pre-administration counseling also seemed critical for the success of PrEP as a cost-effective intervention with adequate coverage.
authors: a Shijiazhuang Center for Disease Control and Prevention , Shijia Zhuang , China.
authors: Wenya
authors: W
authors: Yu
authors: b National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention , Beijing , China.
authors: Lu
authors: L
authors: Wang
authors: c Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Peking University People's Hospital , Beijing China.
authors: Na
authors: N
authors: Han
authors: b National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention , Beijing , China.
authors: Xiayan
authors: X
authors: Zhang
authors: d Mission Arogya Health and Information Technology Research Foundation , Kolkata , India.
authors: Tanmay
authors: T
authors: Mahapatra
authors: d Mission Arogya Health and Information Technology Research Foundation , Kolkata , India.
authors: Sanchita
authors: S
authors: Mahapatra
authors: e Public Health Foundation of India, Indian Institutes of Public Health , Hyderabad, Bengaluru Campus, Bengaluru , India.
authors: Giridhar R
authors: GR
authors: Babu
authors: f University of North Carolina , Project-China, Guangzhou , China.
authors: Weiming
authors: W
authors: Tang
authors: g Department of Epidemiology , Fielding School of Public Health, University of California , Los Angeles , CA , USA.
authors: Roger
authors: R
authors: Detels
authors: h Impact Results and Evaluation Department, The Global Fund to Fight AIDS , Tuberculosis and Malaria, Geneva , Switzerland.
authors: Jinkou
authors: J
authors: Zhao
mesh_terms: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004338:Drug Combinations; D000068679:Emtricitabine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology*; D065129:Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis / Q000191:economics*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D000068698:Tenofovir / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D000068698:Tenofovir; D000068679:Emtricitabine
keywords: HIV prevention; antiretroviral therapy; controlling the HIV epidemic; pre-exposure prophylaxis; prevention of HIV spread