AEGiS-05CROI: The use of post-exposure therapy (PET) to prevent non-occupational transmission of HIV.

5th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections


Chicago, IL - February 1-5, 1998



The use of post-exposure therapy (PET) to prevent non-occupational transmission of HIV.

Conf Retroviruses Opportunistic Infect 1998 Feb 1-5; 5th:231 (abstract no. S12)

Smith DK; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA.

Intense interest has arisen in the past year about the potential use of antiretrovirals to attempt interruption of HIV transmission following single episodes of sexual, drug use with shared injection equipment, pediatric, or other non-occupational exposure. Studies in recent years have demonstrated the effectiveness of zidovudine in yielding a 79% reduced risk of HIV seroconversion following needle-stick injuries to health care workers and a 67% reduction in perinatal HIV transmission. This has led some to extrapolate that PET may work for other HIV exposures, particularly those which are not recurring or uncommon for an individual (e.g., sexual assault by a known HIV-positive person, condom breakage in an HIV-discordant couple). CDC has received many inquiries about the advisability of PET in a variety of potential exposure events, and many sites (e.g., British Columbia) have put policies in place to make PET available in hospital emergency rooms. In July 1997, CDC convened a consultation with researchers, clinicians, health officials, and representatives of affected groups to discuss PET for non-occupational exposures. At this meeting relevant animal studies, biological data on early events in HIV infection, epidemiologic findings, clinical issues, behavioral concerns, and cost issues were presented and potential treatment scenarios were discussed. Opinions were provided to the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) agencies about future actions to be taken or not taken on this issue. Direct human efficacy data with currently licensed antiretrovirals are needed before making public policy recommendations on PET. Pending their availability, a PHS working group is developing a statement summarizing current knowledge, potential risks and benefits for non-occupational HIV exposures, and issues to be considered by patients and clinicians wishing to attempt it.

Keywords: AEGIS, HIV, Zidovudine, HIV Infections, Anti-HIV Agents, Needlestick Injuries, Health Personnel, Occupational Exposure, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.), Disease Transmission, Vertical, Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors, HIV Seropositivity, HIV Protease Inhibitors, Risk-Taking, Risk, United States, British Columbia, Human, Child, transmission, utilization, AIDSKWDaegis,hiv,zidovudine,hivinfections,anti-hivagents,needlestickinjuries,healthpersonnel,occupationalexposure,centersfordiseasecontrolandprevention(uKWDsKWD),diseasetransmission,vertical,reversetranscriptaseinhibitors,hivseropositivity,hivproteaseinhibitors,risk-taking,risk,unitedstates,britishcolumbia,human,child,transmission,utilization,aids

1998-02-01
S12

Copyright © 1998 - Foundation for Retrovirology and Human Health (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the Foundation for Retrovirology and Human Health. Licensed from National Library of Medicine.