SHOULD PEP BE USED FOR NON-OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE?

SHOULD PEP BE USED FOR NON-OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE?

HIV exposure at work is usually a one-time accident. Other HIV exposures may be due to unsafe behaviors that can occur many times. Some people think that PEP might encourage this unsafe behavior if people think that PEP is an easy way to avoid HIV infection.

There are other reasons why PEP might not be a good idea for non-occupational exposure:

* There is no research to show that PEP works for non-occupational exposure. We don’t know how soon after exposure to HIV someone has to start PEP.
* PEP is not a “morning-after pill.” It is a program of several drugs, several times each day, for at least 30 days. PEP costs between $600 and $1,000.
* For best results, you have to take every dose of every PEP medication. Missing doses could mean that you develop HIV infection. It could also allow the virus to develop resistance to the medications. If that happens they would no longer work for you.
* The medications have serious side effects. About 40% of health care workers did not complete PEP because of the side effects.

Despite these concerns, there is growing interest in PEP for non-occupational exposure. Most programs include counseling to inform and encourage people to avoid exposure to HIV.