Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP)

The word prophylaxis in the abbreviation represent the meaning of protecting or preventing from a disease or an infection. The procedure of HIV PEP revolves around antiretroviral (ARV) medications. This is done as soon as the HIV exposure is detected in order to prevent the spread and infection of HIV.

There are 2 types of PEP.

1. oPEP
2. nPEP

oPEP is abbreviated for occupational pose exposure prophylaxis. It is the term used to describe the situation where a certain health care provider employee takes HIV PEP because of the possible exposure to HIV, which might have been on the job. Like, an injury by a needle which has been used or any other situation like that. The nPEP is abbreviated for non-occupational post exposure prophylaxis. It is the term used to describe the situation where a person is at possible exposure of HIV outside of the workspace. Like, during a sexual intercourse or the use of injection for drug.

There are certain people, who must take PEP as a cautious step. It may be prescribed to a person on the basis of their HIV negative status or if they are unknown to their HIV status and have bene involved in certain activities in the prior 72 hours.

If a person is in doubt that they have been exposed to HIV during their work, for example by a used needle injury. If a person is in doubt that they are at risk of having HIV infection due to their sexual activities. If a person has shared needles or any other drug preparation equipment with someone else. Or if a person was sexually assaulted, they need to take the precaution and should have HIV PEP done.

The health care providers mostly help the patients in order to determine if they should take PEP or not. PEP is in fact, intended for emergency situations. It is not required by the people who are at a possible risk of exposure to HIV infection. It cannot be used regularly by people. There is one other method of protecting a person form HIV infection. The method sis called, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). It is taken when a particular patient is at high risk for possible HIV exposure. People are recommended to take a specific HIV medication regularly in order to stay protected against the infection.

The medication or the process of PEP must be started as soon as it is possible for the patient to. It needs to be done soon because, as the time passes, it loses its effectiveness. It needs to be taken by people always within 72 hours or 3 days after a possible exposure to HIV infection is detected. As per the conducted studies and researches, the PEP is less likely to prevent a person from HIV infection if it is taken 72 hours after a possible exposure to HIV infection.

The process of PEP involved taking 3 or more ARV meds daily for at least 28 days. The patient will be required to return to their respective health care providers at certain instances during the intake of PEP and after they have finished taking PEP.