What is the benefit of post-exposure prophylaxis for PLHIV?
Talas, Kyrgyzstan
Ainura

The decision to conduct post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is made on a case-by-case basis depending on infection risk. PEP should be started as quickly as possible, preferably within the first 24 hours (within 2 hours if posssible) after exposure, but no later than 72 hours later, since the life cycle of the virus is 1—2 days. It is possible to interrupt viral replication, inhibiting reverse transcriptase, integrase, protease, and the cell entry process. This is why ARV drugs are used. The PEP strategy is used depending on exposure specifics, the patient's HIV status, the bodily fluid involved in exposure, etc. Given a low risk of infection, PEP with two drugs can be used (2 NRTIs); for a high risk of infection, use three drugs (2 NRTIs and 1 PI). PEP lasts 4 weeks. Some data indicate that prophylaxis using zidovudine lowers the incidence of infection by 79%. PEP is not 100% effective against HIV infection but it does lower viral RNA concentrations in serum and significantly improves the patient's chances.

Sincerely,
Ainura Kutmanova