NAPWA

As a follow-up to the preliminary guidelines regarding pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for men who have sex with men, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have also issued interim recommendations for heterosexually active adults.

Significantly, healthcare providers have been asked to ensure their patients are uninfected prior to prescribing them PrEP. This relates to cases of drug-resistantHIV which has mutated and is less susceptible to the effects of one or more anti-HIV drugs is said to be resistant. HIV variants which have been identified in people who have used PrEP during undetected acute HIV infection.

Other guidelines released are similar to those for MSM and include targeting PrEP only to those at high risk; ensuring people know that it must be taken on a daily basis and that they are provided with regular testing and other key prevention services.