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hiv prevention

POST EXPosure prophylaxis (PEP)

Do you believe you may be at risk of an HIV infection? Was the incident less than 72 hours ago? If yes to both, then HIV Post Exposure Prophylaxis may be necessary.

For Pre Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) please scroll further down.

Atlas Pacific Medical

Post exposure prophylaxis is an effective method of reducing HIV infections when used soon after a potential exposure. The medication must be started within 72 hours of a potential exposure to be effective.

The standard regimen is known as ‘triple drug therapy’ because the medication uses three active ingredients to stop HIV at different points in its life/replication cycle. Our current best practice is to use the World Health Organisation and CDC recommendations.

The PEP is used for 28 days, after which you test for HIV to ascertain your status. This is as recommended by the CDC.

What should you do if you have had a potentially risky exposure?

The first step would to visit us within 72 hours of this exposure. We can then discuss the situation to see if the risk is significant enough to warrant PEP medication.

If your risk deems you suitable for PEP, we would require a few preliminary tests first. Blood tests are needed to ensure that kidney and liver function are not compromised allowing you to safely complete the 28 day course of the medication. A rapid HIV test is also needed to ensure that there is no pre-existing HIV already in your body. After, we can start you on the medication and review you during the course, with an HIV test at the end to ascertain your status.

Any further issues can be discussed during the consultation. Please see below for a guide to risk based on sexual exposure.

Remember, everything discussed in clinic is fully confidential – no details will be reported.


Below is table of risk:

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PRE exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)

HIV Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an effective method of HIV prevention designed to give you protection even before an exposure has taken place. The medication is similar to PEP but only one tablet per day is required.

Atlas Pacific Medical

Starting the medication

Patients wishing to start PrEP should attend clinic for a consultation on safety and suitability. If PrEP is deemed suitable for you we can start by performing simple kidney and liver tests as well as a preliminary HIV test (to ensure the medication is safe to commence).

PrEP is ‘loaded’ into your body for 1 week, requiring one tablet per day for one week. During this time you are not fully protected against HIV so avoidance of high risk situations is recommended. After one week you are given protection provided you continue the tablet once daily until you wish to stop.

Once the medication is fully effective in your system you will be given significant protection against HIV even if you have multiple exposures.

When to test for HIV?

We recommend you do routine testing for HIV every three months and liver/kidneys blood testing twice yearly.

It is important to note that even though PrEP is very effective, it is not 100%. Therefore practicing safe sex while on PrEP is still paramount.

How does it work?
Pre-exposure prophylaxis/PrEP works by interfering with two key areas of the HIV replication cycle. The single tablet of PEP actually contains two active ingredients and they work to halt HIV. Even if there was resistance to one active ingredient, there is the second to fall back onto.

Confidentiality

One last thing to remember is that taking PrEP from us is entirely confidential.

To gain a better understanding of the distinction between post-exposure prophylaxis and pre-exposure prophylaxis, please click here for further information.

For more information please contact us or visit us in clinic.

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