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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released interim guidance for the use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for the prevention of HIV infection in men who have sex with men. Available online, the guidance appears in the Jan. 28 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). This guidance follows the results of the iPrEx trial released in November 2010, which examined whether a pill containing drugs used to treat HIV could also help prevent HIV in men who have sex with men (see IDSA News article).
In a response to the guidance, the HIV Medicine Association (HIVMA) noted that CDC was right to call for careful screening and monitoring of patients prescribed PrEP but that the guidance missed the mark in not recommending referral to an HIV expert. HIVMA also noted that this intervention underscores the need to maintain and grow the HIV medical workforce to meet the needs of patients, the importance of treating those already infected with HIV to help prevent new infections, and the unaddressed issue of who will pay for PrEP.
CDC will hold an hour-long telebriefing for providers on Feb.1 at 12 p.m. EST to discuss the guidance. To register for the call, visit this website. For additional information and resources, please see CDC’s PrEP webpage.
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