Strengthening prevention efforts against HIV transmission
WHO has launched updated guidelines aimed at expanding access to HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), a critical intervention in reducing new infections.
Despite significant advancements in HIV treatment and testing, the global community continues to face persistently high rates of new HIV infections. Achieving epidemic control remains elusive, necessitating a renewed focus on preventive measures such as PEP. WHO's new guidelines prioritize broader access to PEP, including community-based delivery and task sharing to mitigate barriers such as stigma and to ensure timely access post-exposure.
PEP involves the administration of antiretroviral medications to individuals at risk of HIV infection after potential exposure. We know that the most crucial factor in preventing HIV infection using PEP is starting PEP as soon as possible after exposure, ideally within 24 hours and no later than 72 hours.
There are two new recommendations in the updated PEP guidelines:
New recommendation: HIV PEP should be delivered in community settings (strong recommendation, very low certainty of evidence). A key innovation in the updated guidelines are recommendations for community-based delivery and task sharing for PEP. Evidence supports the feasibility and effectiveness of providing PEP in community settings such as pharmacies, police stations and online platforms. This approach not only enhances accessibility, reducing the time between exposure and starting PEP, but also reduces stigma associated with seeking HIV prevention services. |
New recommendation: Task sharing should be employed to dispense, distribute, provide and monitor PEP (strong recommendation, very low-certainty evidence). Task sharing, involving non-specialist health workers like pharmacists and community health workers, has also proven effective in expanding access to PEP. This strategy reduces the burden on specialized healthcare providers and enhances equity in access across diverse populations. |
The updated guidelines are set to empower healthcare providers and communities worldwide to strengthen their efforts in preventing new HIV infections through timely and accessible PEP.
