June 17, 2014 – PrEP

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ANCHOR LEAD:  THE CDC HAS ISSUED NEW GUIDELINES ON HIV PREVENTION FOR THOSE AT RISK, ELIZABETH TRACEY REPORTS

PrEP is the acronym for ‘pre-exposure prophylaxis,’ a strategy the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has now recommended as a means to avoid HIV transmission to people at risk. Such people include the intimate partners of someone who is already infected with HIV.  Joseph Cofrancesco Jr, an HIV expert at Johns Hopkins, comments.

COFRANCESCO: Pre-exposure prophylaxis, or taking antivirals before getting exposed to HIV is really exciting because it’s another tool in the armamentarium to prevent people from getting HIV.  It’s based on a number of studies, not all of the studies have been as promising as others, but in general the data suggest that done properly, for those who are HIV negative, and tested to be HIV negative, along with good counseling to prevent high risk activity, you can prevent transmission of HIV.  :30

The CDC guidelines state that if taken daily, PrEP can reduce the risk of infection in those at risk by 92%.  At Johns Hopkins, I’m Elizabeth Tracey.