Post-exposure prophylaxis

Post-exposure prophylaxis, also known as post-exposure prevention (PEP), is any preventive medical treatment started after exposure to a pathogen in order to prevent the infection from occurring.

Post-exposure prophylaxis
Other names	Post-exposure prevention
[edit on Wikidata]

It should be contrasted with pre-exposure prophylaxis, which is used before the patient has been exposed to the infective agent.

COVID-19

In 2021, the US FDA gave emergency use authorization (EUA) to bamlanivimab/etesevimab for post-exposure prophylaxis against COVID-19.^[1] However, due to its reduced effectiveness against Omicron variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, it is no longer recommended for this purpose.^[2]

Ensitrelvir is being studied for its potential use as post-exposure prophylaxis against COVID-19.^[3][4][5]

Rabies

PEP is commonly and very effectively used to prevent the onset of rabies after a bite by a suspected-rabid animal, since diagnostic tools are not available to detect rabies infection prior to the onset of the nearly always-fatal disease.^[6] The treatment consists of a series of injections of rabies vaccine and immunoglobulin.^[7] Rabies vaccine is given to both humans and animals who have been potentially exposed to rabies.^[8]

Tetanus

Tetanus toxoid can be given in case of a suspected exposure to tetanus. In such cases, it can be given with or without tetanus immunoglobulin (also called tetanus antibodies or tetanus antitoxin^[9]). It can be given as intravenous therapy or by intramuscular injection.^{[citation needed]}

The guidelines for such events in the United States for non-pregnant people 11 years and older are as follows:^[10]

Vaccination status	Clean, minor wounds	All other wounds
Unknown or fewer than three doses of tetanus toxoid containing vaccine	Tdap and recommend catch-up vaccination	Tdap and recommend catch-up vaccination Tetanus immunoglobulin
Three or more doses of tetanus toxoid containing vaccine AND less than 5 years since last dose	No indication	No indication
Three or more doses of tetanus toxoid containing vaccine AND 5–10 years since last dose	No indication	Tdap preferred (if not yet received) or Td
Three or more doses of tetanus toxoid containing vaccine AND more than 10 years since last dose	Tdap preferred (if not yet received) or Td	Tdap preferred (if not yet received) or Td

HIV

 

HIV post exposure prophylaxis medication used in Canada in 2023 include a combination of lamivudine, tenofovir, and raltegravir

History

AZT was approved as a treatment for AIDS in 1987. Healthcare workers would occasionally be exposed to HIV during work. Some people^[who?] thought to try giving health care workers AZT to prevent seroconversion. This practice dramatically decreased the incidence of seroconversion among health workers when done under certain conditions.^[11]

Later the questions arose of whether to give HIV treatment after known exposure or high risk of exposure. Early data from preclinical studies established the efficacy of AZT in preventing transmission of HIV infection.^[12] AZT was also seen to reduce maternal-infant transmission of HIV in a randomized controlled trial, suggesting AZT's post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) use.^[13] Subsequent data show combination antiretroviral therapy is significantly superior than AZT in reducing perinatal transmission rates.^[14] In addition, AZT is generally no longer recommended due to poor tolerance resulting in high rates of patient noncompliance.^{[citation needed]}

Non-occupational exposures include cases when a condom breaks while a person with HIV has sex with an HIV-negative person in a single incidence, or in the case of unprotected sex with an anonymous partner, or in the case of a non-habitual incident of sharing a syringe for injection drug use. Evidence suggests that PEP also reduces the risk of HIV infection in these cases.^[15] In 2005, the US DHHS released the first recommendations for non-occupational PEP (nPEP) use to lower risk of HIV infection after exposures. The recommendations were replaced with an updated guideline in 2016.^[16]

Occupational exposures include needlestick injury of health care professionals from an HIV-infected source. In 2012, the US DHHS included guidelines on occupational PEP (oPEP) use for individuals with HIV exposures occurring in health care settings.^[17]

Since taking HIV-attacking medications shortly after exposure was proven to reduce the risk of contracting HIV, this led to research into pre-exposure prophylaxis by taking medication before a potential exposure to HIV occurred.^[18]

A report from early 2013 revealed that a female baby born with the HIV virus displayed no sign of the virus two years after high doses of three antiretroviral drugs were administered within 30 hours of her birth. The findings of the case were presented at the 2013 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Atlanta, U.S. and the baby is from Mississippi, U.S. The baby—known as the "Mississippi baby"—was considered to be the first child to be "functionally cured" of HIV.^[19] However, HIV re-emerged in the child as of July 2014.^[20]

Risk evaluation

Initiation of post-exposure prophylaxis with the use of antiretroviral drugs is dependent on a number of risk factors, though treatment is usually started after one high-risk event. In order to determine whether post-exposure prophylaxis is indicated, an evaluation visit will be conducted to consider risk factors associated with developing HIV. Assessments at this visit will include whether the at-risk person or the potential source-person are HIV positive, details around the potential HIV exposure event, including timing and circumstances, whether other high-risk events have occurred in the past, testing for sexually transmitted diseases, testing for hepatitis B and C (nPEP is also effective against hepatitis B), and pregnancy tests for women of childbearing potential.^[16]

Risk factors for developing HIV includes exposure of mucous membranes (vagina, rectum, eye, mouth, broken skin or under the skin) of an HIV-negative person to bodily fluids (blood, semen, rectal secretions, vaginal secretions, breast milk) of a person known to be HIV positive. For example, having unprotected sex with HIV positive partner is considered risky, but sharing sex toys, spitting and biting considered to be negligible risks for initiating post-exposure prophylaxis. The highest non-sexual risk is blood transfusion and the highest sexual contact risk is receptive anal intercourse. The timing of exposure does not affect the risk of developing HIV, but it does alter whether post-exposure prophylaxis will be recommended. Exposures that occurred 72 hours or less to beginning treatment are eligible for post-exposure prophylaxis. If the exposure occurred over 73 hours prior to treatment initiation, post-exposure prophylaxis is not indicated.^[16]

Testing

Initial HIV testing: Before initiating PEP after potential HIV exposure, persons should be tested for HIV1 and HIV2 antigens and antibodies in the blood using a rapid diagnostic test. PEP should only be started if rapid diagnostic test reveals no HIV infection present or if tests results are not available. However, if HIV infection is already present then PEP should not be started. HIV test should be repeated four to six weeks and three months after exposure.^[16]

People may experience signs and symptoms of acute HIV infection, including fever, fatigue, myalgia, and skin rash, while taking PEP. CDC recommends seeking medical attention for evaluation if these signs and symptoms occur during or after the month of PEP. If follow-up laboratory antibody tests reveal HIV infection, HIV treatment specialists should be sought out and PEP should not be discontinued until person is evaluated and treatment plan is established.^[16]

STI and HBV testing: People with potential exposure to HIV are also at risk of acquiring STI and HBV. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends STI-specific nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT) for gonorrhea and chlamydia and blood tests for syphilis. PEP is also active against HBV infections so discontinuation of medication can cause the reactivation of HBV, though rare. Health care providers must monitor HBV status closely.^[16]

Follow up testing: Serum creatinine and estimated creatinine clearance should be measured at baseline to determine the most appropriate PEP antiretroviral regimen. While on PEP, liver function, renal function, and hematologic parameters should be monitored.^[16]

Treatment

In the case of HIV exposure, post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is a course of antiretroviral drugs which reduces the risk of seroconversion after events with high risk of exposure to HIV (e.g., unprotected anal or vaginal sex, needlestick injuries, or sharing needles).^[21] The CDC recommends PEP for any HIV-negative person who has recently been exposed to HIV for any reason.^[21]

To be most effective, treatment should begin within an hour of exposure.^[22] After 72 hours PEP is much less effective, and may not be effective at all.^[21] Prophylactic treatment for HIV typically lasts four weeks.^[21][23]

While there is compelling data to suggest that PEP after HIV exposure is effective, there have been cases where it has failed. Failure has often been attributed to the delay in receiving treatment (greater than 72 hours post-exposure), the level of exposure, and/or the duration of treatment (lack of adherence to the 28-day regimen). In addition, since the time and level of non-occupational exposures are self-reported, there is no absolute data on the administration timeframe to which PEP would be efficacious. The standard antibody window period begins after the last day of PEP treatment. People who received PEP are typically advised to get an antibody test at 6 months post-exposure as well as the standard 3 month test.^[21]

The antiretroviral regimen used in PEP is the same as the standard highly active antiretroviral therapy used to treat AIDS. A typical prescription is a 28-day course of emtricitabine/tenofovir pills containing 200 mg of emtricitabine and 245 mg of tenofovir disoproxil to be taken once daily, and 400 mg pills of raltegravir to be taken twice daily.^[24] People initiating nPEP treatment typically receive a 28-day starter pack, as opposed to a 3-7 day starter pack, to facilitate strong medication adherence.^[16] They should also be counseled on the unpleasant side effects including malaise, fatigue, diarrhea, headache, nausea and vomiting.^[21]

People at high risk for re-exposure due to unprotected intercourse or other behavioral factors should be given PrEP, which would begin immediately after the completion of the nPEP treatment course. Inversely, if a medically adherent patient is already on PrEP upon non-occupational exposure, nPEP treatment is not necessary.^[16]

Hepatitis A

For exposure to hepatitis A, human normal immunoglobulin (HNIG) and/or hepatitis A vaccine may be used as PEP depending on the clinical situation.^[25][26]

Hepatitis B

If the person exposed is an HBsAg positive source (a known responder to HBV vaccine) then if exposed to hepatitis B a booster dose should be given. If they are in the process of being vaccinated or are a non-responder they need to have hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) and the vaccine. For known non-responders HBIG and the vaccine should be given whilst those in the process of being vaccinated should have an accelerated course of HBV vaccine.^{[citation needed][27]}

Hepatitis C

Persons exposed to hepatitis C should be tested monthly with PCR, and if seroconversion occurs then treatment with interferon, or possibly ribavirin.^{[citation needed]}

Anthrax

A 60-day course of oral ciprofloxacin should be given when exposure to anthrax is suspected.^[28]

Lyme disease

A single 200 milligram oral dose of doxycycline may be used within 3 days of a deer tick bite in a high risk area (such as New England), if the tick was attached for at least 36 hours.^[29][30][31]

Monkeypox and Smallpox

The smallpox vaccine decreases the incidence of infection with monkeypox and smallpox and the risk of severe illness even when administered after exposure. The CDC advises "that smallpox vaccine be given within 4 days from the date of exposure to prevent onset of the disease but should be offered up to 14 days post-exposure"; the NHS concurs with this but also urges to vaccinate as soon as possible after exposure.^[32]

See also

• Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)

References

1. Research, Center for Drug Evaluation and (16 September 2021). "FDA authorizes bamlanivimab and etesevimab monoclonal antibody therapy for post-exposure prophylaxis (prevention) for COVID-19". FDA. from the original on 17 September 2021. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
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9. "Tetanus antitoxin | biochemistry | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2023-11-08.
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11. Cardo, D. M.; Culver, D. H.; Ciesielski, C. A.; Srivastava, P. U.; Marcus, R.; Abiteboul, D.; Heptonstall, J.; Ippolito, G.; Lot, F.; McKibben, P. S.; Bell, D. M. (1997). "A Case–Control Study of HIV Seroconversion in Health Care Workers after Percutaneous Exposure". New England Journal of Medicine. 337 (21): 1485–1490. doi:10.1056/NEJM199711203372101. PMID 9366579.
12. Shih, CC; Kaneshima, H; Rabin, L; Namikawa, R; Sager, P; McGowan, J; McCune, JM (March 1991). "Postexposure prophylaxis with zidovudine suppresses human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection in SCID-hu mice in a time-dependent manner". The Journal of Infectious Diseases. 163 (3): 625–7. doi:10.1093/infdis/163.3.625. PMID 1995734.
13. Connor, EM; Sperling, RS; Gelber, R; Kiselev, P; Scott, G; O'Sullivan, MJ; VanDyke, R; Bey, M; Shearer, W; Jacobson, RL (3 November 1994). "Reduction of maternal-infant transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 with zidovudine treatment. Pediatric AIDS Clinical Trials Group Protocol 076 Study Group". The New England Journal of Medicine. 331 (18): 1173–80. doi:10.1056/NEJM199411033311801. PMID 7935654. S2CID 13457499.
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15. Katz, M. H.; Gerberding, J. L. (1997). "Postexposure Treatment of People Exposed to the Human Immunodeficiency Virus through Sexual Contact or Injection-Drug Use". New England Journal of Medicine. 336 (15): 1097–1100. doi:10.1056/NEJM199704103361512. PMID 9091810.
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17. Kuhar, David T.; Henderson, David K.; Struble, Kimberly A.; Heneine, Walid; Thomas, Vasavi; Cheever, Laura W.; Gomaa, Ahmed; Panlilio, Adelisa L. (2013). "Updated US Public Health Service guidelines for the management of occupational exposures to human immunodeficiency virus and recommendations for postexposure prophylaxis". Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology. 34 (9): 875–892. doi:10.1086/672271. PMID 23917901. S2CID 17032413. from the original on 2019-06-23. Retrieved 2018-11-04.
18. Desai, Monica; Field, Nigel; Grant, Robert; McCormack, Sheena (2017-12-11). "State of the art review: Recent advances in PrEP for HIV". BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.). 359: j5011. doi:10.1136/bmj.j5011. PMC 6020995. PMID 29229609.
19. Saundra Young (4 March 2013). "Researchers: Toddler cured of HIV". CNN. from the original on 19 May 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
20. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (10 July 2014). ""Mississippi Baby" Now Has Detectable HIV, Researchers Find". NIH. from the original on 9 September 2016. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
21. Smith, Dawn K.; Grohskopf, Lisa A.; Black, Roberta J.; Auerbach, Judith D.; Veronese, Fulvia; Struble, Kimberly A. (21 January 2005). "Antiretroviral Postexposure Prophylaxis After Sexual, Injection-Drug Use, or Other Nonoccupational Exposure to HIV in the United States". cdc.gov. Centers for Disease Control. from the original on 14 April 2011. Retrieved 7 July 2011.
22. Diprose, P; Deakin, C.D.; Smedley, J (2000). "Ignorance of post-exposure prophylaxis guidelines following HIV needlestick injury may increase the risk of seroconversion". British Journal of Anaesthesia. 84 (6): 767–770. doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.bja.a013591. PMID 10895754.
23. . Archived from the original on 2008-03-11. Retrieved 2008-03-05.
24. (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-06-07. Retrieved 2021-06-07.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
25. "Hepatitis A Questions and Answers for Health Professionals". CDC. November 9, 2018. from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
26. CDC (September 14, 2017). "Updated Dosing Instructions for Immune Globulin (Human) GamaSTAN S/D for Hepatitis A Virus Prophylaxis". MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 66 (36): 959–960. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6636a5. eISSN 1545-861X. ISSN 0149-2195. PMC 5657912. PMID 28910270.
27. "Post-exposure Prophylaxis Hepatitis B". conditions.health.qld.gov.au. from the original on 2022-03-04. Retrieved 2022-05-25.
28. "Prevention - Anthrax - CDC". www.cdc.gov. 9 January 2019. from the original on 10 December 2018. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
29. "Tick Bite Prophylaxis". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 30 May 2019. from the original on 26 May 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
30. Zhou G, Xu X, Zhang Y, Yue P, Luo S, Fan Y, Chen J, Liu M, Dong Y, Li B, Kong J, Wen S, Liu A, Bao F (November 2021). "Antibiotic prophylaxis for prevention against Lyme disease following tick bite: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis". BMC Infectious Diseases. 21 (1): 1141. doi:10.1186/s12879-021-06837-7. PMC 8573889. PMID 34749665.
31. Lantos PM, Rumbaugh J, Bockenstedt LK, Falck-Ytter YT, Aguero-Rosenfeld ME, Auwaerter PG, Baldwin K, Bannuru RR, Belani KK, Bowie WR, Branda JA, Clifford DB, DiMario FJ, Halperin JJ, Krause PJ, Lavergne V, Liang MH, Cody Meissner H, Nigrovic LE, Nocton JJ, Osani MC, Pruitt AA, Rips J, Rosenfeld LE, Savoy ML, Sood SK, Steere AC, Strle F, Sundel R, Tsao J, Vaysbrot EE, Wormser GP, Zemel LS (January 2021). "Clinical Practice Guidelines by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), American Academy of Neurology (AAN), and American College of Rheumatology (ACR): 2020 Guidelines for the Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Lyme Disease". Arthritis Care & Research. 73 (1): 1–9. doi:10.1002/acr.24495. PMID 33251700. We recommend that prophylactic antibiotic therapy be given only to adults and children within 72 hours of removal of an identified high-risk tick bite, but not for bites that are equivocal risk or low risk (strong recommendation, high-quality evidence). comment: If a tick bite cannot be classified with a high level of certainty as a high-risk bite, a wait-and-watch approach is recommended. A tick bite is considered to be high-risk only if it meets the following three criteria: the tick bite was from (a) an identified Ixodes spp. vector species, (b) it occurred in a highly endemic area, and (c) the tick was attached for ≥36 hour
32. "Recommendations for the use of pre and post exposure vaccination during a monkeypox incident" (PDF). assets.publishing.service.gov.uk. 17 June 2022. (PDF) from the original on 3 July 2022. Retrieved 9 July 2022. Vaccination should be administered as soon as possible and within 4 days after an identified exposure to prevent or attenuate infection.

Further reading

• Landovitz, RJ; Currier, JS (Oct 29, 2009). "Clinical practice. Postexposure prophylaxis for HIV infection". The New England Journal of Medicine. 361 (18): 1768–75. doi:10.1056/NEJMcp0904189. PMID 19864675.
• Landovitz, RJ (Jul–Aug 2009). "Occupational and nonoccupational postexposure prophylaxis for HIV in 2009". Topics in HIV Medicine. 17 (3): 104–8. PMID 19675368.
• Havens, PL; American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Pediatric, AIDS (Jun 2003). "Postexposure prophylaxis in children and adolescents for nonoccupational exposure to human immunodeficiency virus". Pediatrics. 111 (6 Pt 1): 1475–89. doi:10.1542/peds.111.6.1475. PMID 12777574.
• Jost, J (May 1998). "[Post-exposure HIV prevention within and outside the hospital]". Therapeutische Umschau. Revue therapeutique (in German). 55 (5): 289–94. PMID 9643126.

External links

• CDC on nonoccupational HIV postexposure prophylaxis, an article which summarizes more than 100 related research projects
• : WHO
• Occupational Postexposure Prophylaxis 2014-02-02 at the Wayback Machine: HRSA HIV/AIDS Bureau, The AIDS Education and Training Centers (AETC)