Using Antiretrovirals To Prevent HIV Infections – World Health Organization
Editor’s ChoiceMain Category: HIV / AIDSArticle Date: 21 Jul 2012 – 7:00 PDT
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The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued its first guidance to nations considering providing ARVs (antiretrovirals) to HIV-negative, high risk people. HIV is a retrovirus. Retroviruses are composed of RNA, not DNA; they have an enzyme (reverse transcriptase) which grants them to transcribe their RNA into DNA after getting into a cell, the retroviral DNA can then become an integral part of the host cell’s chromosomal DNA. Antiretrovirals are medications used to manage or control infections caused by retroviruses.PrEP (Pre-exposure prophylaxis)WHO states its recommendations were based on human trials which showed that administering PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) once daily to HIV-negative individuals who are at high risk of becoming infected, is both safe and effective in helping prevent HIV infection.
Clinical trial results showed that PrEP usage can lower HIV infection rates by approximately 40% among men who have sex with men. Patients who took the drug regularly had a 73% lower risk. Among couples where one of them is HIV positive who regularly took PreP, the reduction in risk was 75%.
WHO emphasized that PrEP usage must be accompanied by safe sex practices – consistent use of condoms – as well as regular testing for HIV, getting prompt treatment for STIs (sexually transmitted infection), and counseling.
For PrEP to work properly, adherence is vital – people need to take the medications every day. This may not be simple to achieve, WHO added. The next challenge is to find ways of delivering PrEP in “real life settings” in order to make sure adherence occurs. Adherence means taking the medications according to instructions, which in this case means every day.
Setting up PrEP projects in participating countriesCountries planning to introduce PrEP are being encouraged by WHO to initially set up small projects aimed at helping public health workers fully comprehend the advantages of PrEP.
In these initial projects, antiretroviral medications are administered to people at high risk of HIV infection. An example of a high-risk group includes males or transgender females who have sex with men. The projects need to identify who would benefit the most from PrEP, and find the ideal ways to make sure they get the medications.
The outcomes of these projects would be evaluated by WHO, which would contribute towards WHO guidelines on antiretroviral usage for the prevention and treatment of HIV infection. WHO plans to issue the guidelines in the middle of next year.
Truvada, a once-daily oral drug – is a combination of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and emtricitabine.
Truvada is produced and marketed by Gilead Sciences.
Written by Christian NordqvistCopyright: Medical News TodayNot to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today
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