What is the protocol for prevention of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)?

From the Guidelines

The prevention of HIV involves multiple strategies, with pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) recommended for individuals at high risk, including daily Truvada or Descovy, or on-demand dosing for men who have sex with men, as supported by the most recent guidelines from the International Antiviral Society-USA panel in 2025 1.

Key Prevention Strategies

• Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for high-risk individuals
• Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) started within 72 hours of potential exposure
• Consistent and correct condom use to reduce transmission risk
• Regular HIV testing, particularly for those with risk factors
• Safe injection practices for people who inject drugs
• Antiretroviral therapy during pregnancy, delivery, and breastfeeding to prevent mother-to-child transmission

Recommendations for PrEP and PEP

• Daily Truvada (emtricitabine 200mg/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate 300mg) or Descovy (emtricitabine 200mg/tenofovir alafenamide 25mg) for PrEP
• On-demand dosing for men who have sex with men as an alternative to daily PrEP
• PEP should be started within 72 hours of potential exposure using a three-drug regimen such as Truvada plus dolutegravir 50mg daily for 28 days

Importance of Regular Testing and Safe Practices

• Regular HIV testing is essential, particularly for those with risk factors
• Safe injection practices, including never sharing needles or injection equipment, are critical for people who inject drugs
• Consistent and correct condom use reduces transmission risk by approximately 80%

Conclusion is not allowed, so the response will continue with more details about the prevention methods.

More details about the prevention methods can be found in the guidelines from the International Antiviral Society-USA panel in 2025 1, which provide recommendations for the use of PrEP and PEP, as well as other prevention strategies. Some key points from these guidelines include:

• PrEP is recommended for individuals at high risk of HIV infection, including men who have sex with men, transgender individuals, and people who inject drugs
• PEP is recommended for individuals who have been exposed to HIV, including those who have had unprotected sex or shared needles
• Regular HIV testing is essential for individuals at high risk of HIV infection, and can help identify infections early and prevent transmission to others
• Safe injection practices, including never sharing needles or injection equipment, are critical for people who inject drugs and can help prevent the transmission of HIV and other bloodborne pathogens.

From the FDA Drug Label

Avoid doing things that can spread HIV-1 infection to others: •Do not share or reuse needles or other injection equipment. •Do not share personal items that can have blood or body fluids on them, like toothbrushes and razor blades. •Do not have any kind of sex without protection Always practice safer sex by using a latex or polyurethane condom to lower the chance of sexual contact with any body fluids such as semen, vaginal secretions, or blood.

The protocol for prevention of HIV includes:

• Avoiding sharing of needles or other injection equipment
• Not sharing personal items that can have blood or body fluids on them
• Practicing safer sex by using a latex or polyurethane condom to lower the chance of sexual contact with any body fluids 2

From the Research

Protocol for Prevention of HIV

The protocol for prevention of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) includes the use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) with antiretroviral medications such as tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) and emtricitabine (FTC) 3, 4, 5.

• The fixed-dose combination of emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, administered orally once daily, has been shown to reduce the risk of sexually acquired HIV-1 in high-risk adults who are not infected 3.
• TDF-based pre-exposure prophylaxis is generally safe and well tolerated, with a potent intervention against HIV acquisition when taken 6.
• PrEP can be a female-controlled prevention method for women who are unable to negotiate condom use, and can provide an additional safety net to sexually active persons at risk when combined with other prevention strategies 5.

Key Considerations

• Adherence to PrEP medication is crucial for its effectiveness, and individuals should be educated on the importance of consistent use 3, 5.
• The potential for development of drug resistance and the need for monitoring of long-term safety, including renal function and bone mineral density, should be considered 3, 6.
• Barriers to PrEP uptake and persistence are complex and extend along a socio-ecologic framework from individual through structural, and evidence-based solutions are needed to increase access, uptake, and persistence in PrEP care for all 7.

Ongoing Research and Development

• Ongoing trials are evaluating the safety and efficacy of TDF and emtricitabine for PrEP, as well as other antiretroviral medications and formulations, such as long-acting injectable PrEP 4, 5, 7.
• Future trials are being formulated for intermittent PrEP (iPrEP) and other alternative dosing strategies, which may help to address issues of adherence and acceptability 5.