Pre-exposure prophylaxis: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{SI}} | |||
{{EH}} | |||
'''Pre-exposure prophylaxis''' ('''PrEP''') is the long-term use of a [[prophylactic]] treatment for a disease prior to exposure to the cause of that disease, so that the prophylactic treatment will already be in place when exposure occurs, and may either be able to prevent the disease from being contracted, or at least ensure that the resulting disease is treated from its outset, whether or not the patient is aware that infection has occurred. | '''Pre-exposure prophylaxis''' ('''PrEP''') is the long-term use of a [[prophylactic]] treatment for a disease prior to exposure to the cause of that disease, so that the prophylactic treatment will already be in place when exposure occurs, and may either be able to prevent the disease from being contracted, or at least ensure that the resulting disease is treated from its outset, whether or not the patient is aware that infection has occurred. | ||
| Line 17: | Line 20: | ||
* CDC: [http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/rabies/prevention&control/preventi.htm Rabies prevention and control] | * CDC: [http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/rabies/prevention&control/preventi.htm Rabies prevention and control] | ||
{{SIB}} | |||
[[Category:Medical treatments]] | |||
{{WH}} | |||
{{WS}} | |||
Latest revision as of 15:12, 14 May 2009
Please Take Over This Page and Apply to be Editor-In-Chief for this topic: There can be one or more than one Editor-In-Chief. You may also apply to be an Associate Editor-In-Chief of one of the subtopics below. Please mail us [1] to indicate your interest in serving either as an Editor-In-Chief of the entire topic or as an Associate Editor-In-Chief for a subtopic. Please be sure to attach your CV and or biographical sketch.
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is the long-term use of a prophylactic treatment for a disease prior to exposure to the cause of that disease, so that the prophylactic treatment will already be in place when exposure occurs, and may either be able to prevent the disease from being contracted, or at least ensure that the resulting disease is treated from its outset, whether or not the patient is aware that infection has occurred.
The most common use of this term is to refer to the controversial use of antiretroviral treatments by people at high risk to exposure to HIV, in an attempt to either prevent HIV infection from taking hold, or at least to postpone or prevent the development of AIDS subsequent to HIV infection.
The effectiveness of PrEP for HIV is as yet unproven, and medical trials of PrEP have collapsed due to protests about the exposure of members of the control group to HIV. One criticism of PrEP for HIV is that it might encourage risky behavior such as barebacking, possibly increasing, rather than decreasing, the risk of HIV infection both to the individual and the population at large.
Pre-exposure prophylaxis can also refer to the aggressive use of vaccination, for example in an attempt to prevent rabies in people such as laboratory workers who are high risk for being bitten by rabid animals.
See also
External links
- Singh JA, Mills EJ (2005) The Abandoned Trials of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis for HIV: What Went Wrong? PLoS Med. 2(9): e234
- Lange J (2005) We Must Not Let Protestors Derail Trials of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis for HIV PLoS Med. 2(9): e248.
- Aidsmap.com: Nevirapine studied as pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV: safe in 200 mg dose
- Aidsmap.com: Pre-exposure prophylaxis may only offer limited benefit
- CDC: Rabies prevention and control