🩺 Pre-Exposure and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP & PEP): Complete Guide for Healthcare and High-Risk Settings
Author: BJ (Health Blogger)
Category: Medical Awareness | Infectious Diseases
Published on: 28 June 2025
🧬 Introduction
In a world where healthcare workers, lab technicians, and even the general public face risk of exposure to serious infections like HIV, Hepatitis B/C, and other blood-borne or sexually transmitted diseases — preventive care becomes critically important.
That's where Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) come into play.
These are preventive medical strategies used before or after potential exposure to an infection to reduce the risk of acquiring that infection.
📌 What is Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)?
PrEP stands for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis — it is a method where a person takes medication before being exposed to a virus, especially HIV, to prevent infection.
🧪 Used For:
Preventing HIV infection in high-risk individuals.
Preventing Hepatitis B in non-immune persons.
👥 Who Should Use PrEP?
People with a partner who is HIV positive.
Health care workers at high risk.
Individuals with multiple sexual partners.
Injection drug users.
People who engage in unprotected sex.
💊 Common Medicines for PrEP (for HIV):
| Medicine Name | Drug Combination | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tab. Tavin-EM | Tenofovir disoproxil + Emtricitabine | Once daily oral pill |
| Tab. Emtaf | Tenofovir alafenamide + Emtricitabine | Not approved for vaginal sex |
Effectiveness: PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by 99% and from injection drug use by 74%when taken daily.
📌 What is Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP)?
PEP stands for Post-Exposure Prophylaxis — taking medication after potential exposure to prevent infection from viruses like HIV, Hepatitis B/C.
💉 Used For:
Healthcare workers after needle-stick injuries.
Accidental exposure to HIV-infected blood.
Unprotected sex with someone who may be HIV-positive.
Sexual assault victims.
Shared needles.
🕒 Timing is Critical:
Must be started within 72 hours of exposure.
The sooner, the better — ideally within 2 hours.
💊 Common PEP Regimen (for HIV):
| Duration | Medicine Name | Combination brand name |
|---|---|---|
| 28 days | Tenofovir alafenamide 25mg + Emtricitabine 200mg+ Dolutegravir 50mg | Tab Spegra |
| 28 days | Tenofovir disoproxil 300mg + Lamivudine 300mg + Dolutegravir 50mg | Tab Viropil |
Important: Complete 28-day course even if tests are negative.
🩻 PEP for Hepatitis B
| Situation | Action |
|---|---|
| Source is HBsAg positive, person not vaccinated | Administer HBIG + Start full HBV vaccine series immediately |
| Source unknown or low risk | Start vaccine series if unvaccinated |
| Person vaccinated but non-responder | Give HBIG x2 doses, or HBIG + revaccinate |
🔬 PEP for Hepatitis C (HCV)
No effective PEP currently available.
Close follow-up and monitoring is recommended.
Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) are used after diagnosis, not as prophylaxis.
💡 Practical Examples:
| Situation | Prophylaxis Used | When to Start |
|---|---|---|
| Doctor gets needle prick from HIV+ patient | PEP for HIV | Within 2 hours |
| Nurse exposed to hepatitis B-infected blood | HBIG + HBV vaccine | Immediately |
| Person in high-risk sexual relationship | PrEP for HIV | Daily, before exposure |
| Healthcare student assisting in surgeries | PrEP (optional) | Continuous during risk |
⚠️ Side Effects and Monitoring
Common Side Effects:
Nausea, fatigue, headache
Mild liver or kidney function changes
Monitoring Required:
HIV test before starting PrEP or PEP
Kidney function (Creatinine)
Hepatitis B/C testing
Pregnancy test (in females of childbearing age)
✅ Summary Checklist
| Topic | PrEP | PEP |
|---|---|---|
| Use | Before exposure | After exposure |
| Time | Daily | Within 72 hours |
| Duration | Ongoing | 28 days |
| Target | High-risk people | Emergency exposure cases |
| Effectiveness | 99% (HIV) | High if started early |
📢 Final Note
PrEP and PEP are powerful tools in protecting healthcare workers, lab technicians, and the general public from potentially life-threatening infections.
Every doctor, surgeon, nurse, and even informed citizen should know:
When to use it,
What to take,
And how to act fast in emergency situations.
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