Topic: Post-exposure Prophylaxis - HIV
Description
PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) is a 4 week treatment that may prevent HIV infection and is available to anyone who thinks they may have been exposed to HIV within the last 72 hours. It is a combination of anti-HIV drugs that must be taken exactly as prescribed at very specific times over a four-week period.
Do's
PEP is most effective when taken immediately after exposure to HIV, preferably within two hours – but it may still be effective if taken within 72 hours (3 days) of exposure.
It is extremely important that a person, who may have been exposed to HIV through contact with blood or body fluids from an HIV positive person, seeks advice and treatment as soon as possible.
The best ways to avoid infection with HIV and other blood-borne and sexually transmissible infections (STIs) is to avoid contact with blood and body fluids. Practicing safe sex, including consistent and correct use of condoms (using water based lube) and not sharing any drug injecting, piercing or tattooing equipment with anyone can minimise your risk of exposure to HIV, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus and STIs.
PEP can be used in emergency situations where there has been a failure in usual precautions and there may be a risk of exposure to HIV.
It is strongly believed that PEP may prevent HIV infection following an exposure to infected blood or bodily fluid. In the case of occupational exposure in a workplace (eg. Needle stick injury in a clinic), PEP has been used for a number of years and has been effective in most cases. Trials have also shown the use of PEP in cases of exposure to HIV from social behaviours to be effective for patients who completed the full cause of PEP.
These are powerful drugs that can cause side effects and many people who have taken the drugs reported that they experienced considerable discomfort from abdominal pain, diarrhoea and/or headaches throughout the four weeks.
Sticking to the strict medication routine however is essential to give the treatments a chance to work effectively.
Tips
As PEP can delay the production of HIV antibodies produced by the body a number of follow-up appointments with the service who prescribed PEP are essential. Monitoring of your health is strongly recommended during and for 5 months after completion of the course of PEP or if the course is interrupted or prematurely terminated. Acquisition of HIV from the risk exposure can not be excluded for 6 months after the commencement of PEP.
Helpful Hints
Note well: What PEP is not.
- PEP is not pleasant to take.
- PEP is not a guarantee that HIV infection will be prevented, but it is thought to decrease the chances of infection occurring.
- PEP is not a 'morning after pill'.
- PEP will not make people immune to future HIV exposures. People still need to practice safe sex and in the case of injecting drug users, safer injecting practices to prevent HIV infection. If you are exposed to HIV again in the future you should seek urgent medical advice from an HIV treatments doctor.
Practical Advice
Where to get PEP?
PEP can only be prescribed by a specialised doctor and is available from:
- AMU (AIDS Medical Unit), Brisbane
- Sexual Health Clinics
- Department of Emergency medicine (Accident and Emergency) in major hospitals. Contact details are listed in the White Pages under 'Hospitals'
- Your nearest GP HIV treatments (S100) prescriber
The standard prescription drug co-payment will be charged by the pharmacy dispensing the drugs. Anyone wishing to access PEP should telephone one of these services and advise them that PEP may be required. Don’t feel anxious about discussing PEP with the trained clinical staff members of these services.
Even if the risk seems minimal or if unsure about the need for PEP, discuss the matter with a doctor. In addition, staff members from AMU and sexual health clinics listed below are able to listen, and provide information about PEP.
AMU (AIDS Medical Unit), Brisbane (City) 07 3837 5622
Sexual Health Clinics
Brisbane (City) 07 3837 5611
Bundaberg 07 4150 2754
Cairns 07 4050 6205
Ipswich 07 3817 2428
Mackay 07 4968 3919
Gold Coast (Miami) 07 5576 9033
Mt Isa 07 4744 4805
PA Hospital (Annerley) 07 3240 5881
Palm Island 07 4752 5165
Redcliffe 07 3897 6300
Rockhampton 07 4920 5555
Sunshine Coast (Nambour) 07 5470 5244
Thursday Island 07 4069 0413
Toowoomba 07 4616 6446
Townsville 07 4778 9600
Related Content
HIV and AIDS fact sheet
Last updated: 1st August, 2008
Review Date: 1st August, 2009
