title: What is the extent of repeat prescriptions for post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV after sexual exposure among men who have sex with men in the UK?
abstract: People who repeatedly present for post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for prevention of HIV following a high-risk sexual exposure are of concern according to the British HIV Association PEP guidelines. The aim of this audit was to determine the extent of repeat PEP prescriptions for men who have sex with men (MSM) by conducting a retrospective review of patient notes from a 5-year period at one genitourinary medicine clinic. Over the 5 years, 107 of 929 MSM (11.5%; 95% confidence interval: 9.45-13.55) received more than one PEP prescription (repeat range 1-8; mean=3.3, s.d.=1.44). Forty percent of these had received three or more PEP prescriptions. Seven of the 107 became HIV positive. Patients need to be offered and encouraged to take up behavioural risk reduction interventions at the time of each PEP prescription.
authors.affiliation: Division of Public Health and Primary Care, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Room 317 Mayfield House, Village Way, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9PU, UK.
authors.forename: Carrie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Llewellyn
authors.affiliation: Division of Public Health and Primary Care, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Room 317 Mayfield House, Village Way, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9PU, UK.
authors.forename: Harriet
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.affiliation: Department of Genitourinary Medicine/HIV, Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals, Eastern Road, Brighton, BN2 5BE, UK.
authors.forename: Eileen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nixon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D056990:Post-Exposure Prophylaxis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000072339:Sexual and Gender Minorities; D006113:United Kingdom