Question

How do drug therapies work? How can a health care worker who is stuck with a needle be protected against developing a HIV infection? How effective is the Post Exposure Prophylactic treatment? How effective is Pre Exposure Prophylactics in preventing HIV infection in non-infection partners of infection HIV subjects

Answer 1

-Drug therapy is a term for using medication to treat or to prevent disease. Drugs interact with receptors or enzymes in cells to promote healthy functioning and reduce or cure illness. In the specific case of HIV, the combined use of different antiretroviral drugs allows controlling viral replication, decreasing immune activation and preserving and or restoring the immune system in a large part of patients, increasing life expectancy. However, due to the current impossibility of eliminate the virus reservoirs, it is necessary to maintain the antiretroviral treatment for life.

-HIV means human immunodeficiency virus. It is an infection that attacks the body's immune system. The infection can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).

Health workers are at risk of viral exposure in the workplace. HIV is a type of exposure. It is transmitted through certain body fluids of an infected person.

The risk of contracting HIV from a needle stick injury is less than 1%.

For protection, a health worker must immediately after a exposure:

1) Exert pressure in the affected area.

2) Clean with tap water and soap the affected area.

3) Notify his/her supervisor and coworkers. If the workplace has other established procedures, follow them (incident reports, etc.).

4) Seek immediate medical attention. (Go to the employee's health unit or emergency department)

-Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is one of the HIV prevention strategies in which people who do not have HIV, but who have practices that can expose them to the transmission of the virus, take an antiretroviral drug and thus reduce the possibility of acquiring it. If a person is taking PrEP and is exposed to the semen, pre-seminal fluid or vaginal fluids of a person with HIV, the antiretroviral medication helps prevent the virus from infecting the cells of the immune system and thus prevents HIV infection from establishing . Medical studies have shown that PrEP is highly effective (>90%) in reducing risk of HIV infection among various populations when used as prescribed.

-On the other hand, post-exposure prophylaxis (Pep) is most effective when started shortly after exposure to HIV, ideally within 72 hours, when doses are not missed and when people complete the recommended course of 28 days. PEP involves the administration of antiretroviral drugs after exposure to HIV . The effectiveness of Pep can reach 80%, but no epidemiological or clinical trials have been carried out because they are not considered ethical.