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With 50,000 new HIV infections in
the United States each year, additional prevention methods are urgently needed.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention applauds the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration’s decision to approve the use of Truvada (a combination of 300
milligrams of tenofovir and 200 milligrams of emtricitabine) to reduce the risk
of acquiring HIV. We believe this is an important step that should help ensure
that physicians and patients receive the detailed information and educational
materials needed to most effectively use this prevention strategy.
If delivered effectively and
targeted to those at highest risk, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) could play
an important role in our response to the HIV epidemic. Strong research evidence
indicates that PrEP, when used consistently, is safe and effective at reducing
the risk of acquiring HIV sexually. Last year, the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention provided interim guidance for gay and bisexual men who may be
considering the use of PrEP, and soon will publish similar guidance for
heterosexual men and women. Key considerations for the use of PrEP include:
•PrEP will not be right for
everyone, but for some individuals at high risk for HIV infection, it may
provide an important additional prevention tool.
•PrEP must be used consistently to
be effective, as the level of protection has been shown to be closely related
to levels of medication adherence.
•PrEP should not be thought of a
stand-alone solution. It should be provided as part of a comprehensive package
of prevention services, including counseling regarding risk reduction and the
importance of adherence to daily doses of PrEP medication, ready access to
condoms, and diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted infections.
•Individuals using PrEP must receive
initial and regular HIV testing to confirm they do not have HIV infection, and
be monitored for potential side effects.
CDC is also leading the development
of more detailed U.S. Public Health Service guidelines on the use of PrEP as
part of comprehensive HIV prevention programs, which we anticipate will be
published later this year.
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is
dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and
empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV
virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!
