Public Health Alert: PrEP -- 5.11.2015
PrEP (Pre-exposure Prophylaxis)
What you need to know
We are seeing the first major medical breakthrough in HIV prevention in the last 30 years. Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) has been shown to be an effective method for primary HIV prevention and could lead to substantial reductions in HIV transmission among high-risk individuals. Currently, there are nearly 4,200 residents living with HIV in Franklin County and HIV diagnoses have increased by 7% since 2003.
Multiple studies have now demonstrated the effectiveness of PrEP using a fixed-dose combination of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) 300 mg and emtricitabine (FTC) 200 mg (Truvada®) in reducing the number of new HIV infections.
In accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines and recommendations, CPH is launching a citywide call-to-action for healthcare providers to discuss, screen, administer or refer high-risk patients for PrEP.
What to watch for
The CDC has published the “Pre-exposure Prophylaxis for HIV Prevention in the United States – 2013: A Clinical Practice Guideline” to help guide providers who are planning to prescribe PrEP to their high-risk patients:
http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pdf/PrEPguidelines2014.pdf
Columbus Public Health is also launching a public awareness campaign soon to help make residents aware of this tool.
Who is at risk
Patients that should be assessed for PrEP include persons who test negative for HIV that are:
- Sexually-active adult MSM (men who have sex with men) at substantial risk of HIV acquisition
- Adult heterosexually active men & women at substantial risk of HIV acquisition
- Adult injection drug users (IDU) at substantial risk of HIV acquisition
PrEP should also be discussed with heterosexually-active women and men whose partners are known to have HIV infection (i.e., HIV-serodiscordant couples).
PrEP should be discussed as one of several options to protect the uninfected partner during conception and pregnancy.
What you can do
1. Review the protocol from the CDC.
2. Assess your HIV negative patients for their risk of HIV infection.
3. Advise your patients at risk about PrEP.
4. Prescribe PrEP when appropriate and monitor patients according to guidelines.
5. If you choose not to be a prescriber of PrEP, refer patients to a provider from those identified by CPH.
To learn more
Message from Dr. Jose Bazan, Medical Director, CPH Sexual Health Clinic
CDC PrEP Protocol
PrEP Providers In Central Ohio
PrEP Information For The Public
Contact
614-645-6732
[email protected]
240 Parsons Ave., Columbus OH 43215