Preventing New Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infections With Pre-exposure Prophylaxis

Abstract

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) with emtricitabine/tenofovir (TDF/FTC) can reduce HIV infection risk by 92% in people at high risk for HIV. TDF/FTC was approved for HIV PrEP by the Food and Drug Administration in 2012. Primary care nurse practitioners (NPs) have not embraced this tool for the prevention of new HIV infection. A number of barriers exist that may prevent primary care NPs from prescribing HIV PrEP for patients in need. This article clarifies current recommendations for HIV PrEP and provides practical guidance for primary care NPs to incorporate this tool into their routine practice.

Student Education About Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Varies Between Regions of the United States

“…Scaling up of PrEP prescription, which is essential to end the HIV epidemic, requires interprofessional collaboration. 42,45,49,[64][65][66][67][68][69][70][71] We investigated the comprehensiveness of health professions students' education regarding PrEP, and whether education about HIV-risk and PrEP were matched with regional disparities in PrEP prescription and HIV incidence. The methodology and results are reported following published guidelines.…”

U.S. nurse practitioners' HIV screening behaviors and health center characteristics

“…Identifying HIV-infected individuals as soon as possible after testing allows individuals to begin antiretroviral treatment and decrease the chance of HIV transmission. For those without HIV infection but at risk for HIV, screening can be an optimal time to discuss preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for men and women who have significant risk factors for the disease (Cotler et al, 2017).…”