Proposed European recommendations for post-exposure prophylaxis against HIV infection in healthcare workers

According to exposure:

Post Exposure Prophylaxis

percutaneous injury

Recommended

exposure of mucous membrane

Considered

exposure of non intact skin

Considered

exposure of intact skin

Discouraged

bite

Considered

 

According to material:

blood

Recommended

body materials containing visible blood

Recommended

cerebrospinal fluid

Recommended

concentrated virus in a research lab. or production facility

Recommended

semen; vaginal secretions; synovial, pleural, peritoneal, pericardial, or amniotic fluid, and tissues

Considered

urine, vomit, saliva, faeces, tears, sweat, sputum

Discouraged

 

According to source patient:

known to be HIV infected

Recommended

serostatus unknown

Inform the source patient and ask for informed consent to HIV testing.

Assure “immediate” results in order to prevent unnecessary initiation of PEP.

Rapid HIV antibody test could be useful for diagnosis of HIV infection in source patient.

Considered

who denies his/her consent to HIV test

Consider the likelihood of HIV infection in the source

Considered

unknown or who cannot be tested

Considered

HIV seronegative

In the absence of clinical or epidemiological likelihood of HIV infection in the source patient, p24 HIV antigen testing or biomolecular assays are not recommended.

Discouraged