Update: provisional Public Health Service recommendations for chemoprophylaxis after occupational exposure to HIV

Abstract

Although preventing blood exposures is the primary means of preventing occupationally acquired human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, appropriate postexposure management is an important element of workplace safety. Information suggesting that zidovudine (ZDV) postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) may reduce the risk for HIV transmission after occupational exposure to HIV-infected blood prompted a Public Health Service (PHS) interagency working group, with expert consultation, to update a previous PHS statement on management of occupational exposure to HIV with the following findings and recommendations on PEP.