HIV is a virus that affects the immune system. There are several ways to prevent contracting HIV.
One prevention method is called postexposure prophylaxis (PEP), which is a combination of antiretroviral medications. PEP can be taken after a potential exposure in order to help preventHIVtransmission.
下面的文章将重点介绍什么是PEP，何时以及如何接受以及期望什么。
当可能发生艾滋病毒时，在紧急情况下采取PEP。按照指示，它有效防止HIV传播。某些情况的示例可能会在以下情况下包括：
- engaging in consensual sex, especiallywithout a condomor other barrier method or if a barrier method休息
- 体验sexual assault
- sharing needles or other injection drug equipment
- having an occupational injury, such as a needlestick or a cut
重要的是要注意，PEP仅用于紧急使用。它不能代替其他预防HIV预防方法，例如在性行为或服用期间使用避孕套或其他障碍方法preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP)。
PEP is actually a combination of different一个ntiretroviral drugs。这se drugs work to prevent the virus from replicating effectively in the body. The
- tenofovir/emtricitabine (特鲁瓦达）与Raltegravir（Isentress）
- 替诺福韦/ emtricitabine dolutegravi(特鲁瓦达Truvada的)r (Tivicay)
Understanding HIV
HIV is aretrovirus这会破坏免疫系统中的细胞。当不治疗时，免疫系统可能会严重削弱并容易严重opportunistic infections。
HIVcan be transmittedthrough body fluids containing the virus, such as blood, semen, and fluids from the vagina or rectum. These must make direct contact with blood or mucous membranes, such as those found around the genitals and mouth, in order to transmit the virus.
Some people that contract HIV have flu-like symptoms
这re are several ways toreduce the riskof contracting HIV including:
- 使用避孕套或性爱期间的其他障碍法
- having regular screenings forHIV和别的sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
- 避免共享针头或其他注射药物设备
- taking准备
为了有效，必须开始PEP
Because of this, it’s vital to talk with a healthcare professional as soon as possible if exposure to HIV may have occurred. This can include speaking with someone at:
- 一个primary care office
- 一个n urgent care facility
- 一个sexual health clinic
- 急诊室
PEP medications are taken daily for a total of 28 days (4 weeks). They’re given in a pill format.
每天在同一时间大约服用PEP很重要。因此，在治疗期间，体内抗逆转录病毒药物的水平保持恒定。
缺少PEP剂量会使其效率降低。在手机或平板电脑上设置每日警报可能会有所帮助，以记住何时再剂量的时间。在24小时内错过一剂时，一旦有人注意到，就可以立即服用。
请记住，PEP无法降低其他性传播感染或感染的风险丙型肝炎。它也无法阻止其他艾滋病毒暴露。因此，服用PEP的人应在性爱期间继续使用避孕套，并避免共享注射药物设备。
Now that we’ve discussed PEP as well as how and when it’s taken, let’s take a look at what to expect both before and after taking PEP.
Before PEP
Prior to prescribing PEP, a healthcare professional will perform an assessment to determine the risk of exposure to HIV. The following situations are considered to increase the risk of HIV transmission:
- 可能含有艾滋病毒的体液（例如，艾滋病毒阳性或艾滋病毒状况未知的人的体液）与血液或粘膜膜直接接触。
- 一个n individual isn’t currently taking PrEP as directed by their doctor in order to prevent HIV.
医疗保健专业人员也将要求rapid HIV testing开处方PEP之前。不建议使用HIV阳性的人PEP，据估计1 in 7 peoplethat have HIV don’t know that they have it.
可能订购的其他测试包括：
- screening for other STIs, such assyphilis，，，，gonorrhea，，，，一个nd衣原体
- screening for other bloodborne infections, such as丙型肝炎和丙型肝炎
- 一个pregnancy test
- 血液检查检查kidney一个ndliverfunction
佩普之后
一个fter completing a course of PEP, it’s important to get测试了艾滋病毒。This can help determine if PEP was effective.
Plan to get tested right after finishing PEP treatment and again 3 months after the initial exposure. People who contracted hepatitis C during a potential HIV exposure will need an additional HIV test 6 months after the exposure.
While PEP isn’t 100-percent effective, there are very few reports of HIV transmission when it’s used as prescribed. Let’s look at what some of the research says.
一个
这个数字,只有17人(大约1%)ent on to contract HIV. Researchers noted that contracting HIV after PEP was associated with factors like starting PEP more than 72 hours after exposure or not taking PEP as directed.
一个2016分析疾病控制与预防中心（CDC）研究了涵盖不同群体的PEP的研究：
- Men who have sex with men.从六项研究中，PEP后1,535名男性中有48例患HIV。在这个数字中，只有8例（0.5％）可能是由于PEP不起作用。其他40个归因于其他行为。
- 混合种群。In 15 studies, which included exposures through sex, sexual assault, and injection drug use, only 19 out of 2,209 people got HIV after PEP. Just 1 case was attributed to PEP not working while the other 18 were associated with other behaviors or not taking PEP as directed.
什么可能限制PEP的有效性？
PEP is typically very effective at preventing HIV transmission when taken exactly as directed. PEP is less effective when:
- waiting more than 72 hours to start PEP after a potential exposure
- not sticking with the treatment plan
- 从事增加艾滋病毒传播风险的行为
- exposure to a strain of HIV that’s抵抗的to the drugs in PEP
Some people that take PEP may experience side effects. These can include:
如果发生副作用，重要的是不要停止服用PEP，因为这会使其效率降低。取而代之的是，与医疗保健专业人员谈谈减少副作用的方法。
一个complete course of PEP can cost from
在某些情况下，个人可能不需要为PEP付费。例如，如果医疗保健专业人员在工作中接触艾滋病毒，他们的工作场所保险计划或工人薪酬计划通常会为PEP支付。
在性侵犯的情况下，PEP的成本可能部分或完全涵盖。幸存者可以接触到犯罪受害者办公室了解其州的选择。
How to pay for PEP
Use the resources below to get help paying for PEP:
- Patient assistance programs.Many pharmaceutical companies have patient assistance programs that offer low-cost or no-cost medications to eligible individuals. Some to check out are:
- Gilead Advancing Access.推进访问is the patient assistance program from the producer of Truvada.
- Merck.默克有患者协助计划for many of their drugs, including Isentress.
- ViiV Connect.ViiV Connectis the patient assistance program from ViiV Healthcare, the maker of Tivicay.
- 医学援助工具。这药物辅助工具helps people find programs that can help them get prescriptions at low cost or no cost. Enter the relevant medications and some basic personal information to get started.
- 医疗补助。Medicaidis a joint federal and state program that helps to cover healthcare costs for people with low income and resources. Coverage and eligibility can varyby state。
PEP是潜在的HIV暴露后服用的抗逆转录病毒药物的组合。它仅用于紧急目的，不能代替其他预防艾滋病毒的方法。
完全按照指示服用，PEP非常有效地降低患艾滋病毒的风险。每天必须每天服用PEP 28天，理想情况下，每天同时进行。
PEP is only effective when started within 72 hours of a potential exposure and it’s more effective the sooner an individual seeks treatment. In the event of a potential HIV exposure, don’t hesitate to see a healthcare professional about PEP.