recommendations for the management of health-care personnel (HCP) who have occupational exposure to blood and other body fluids that might contain human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Although the principles of exposure management remain unchanged, recommended HIV postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) regimens have been changed. This report emphasizes adherence to HIV PEP when it is indicated for an exposure, expert consultation in management of exposures, follow-up of exposed workers to improve adherence to PEP, and monitoring for adverse events, including seroconversion. To ensure timely postexposure management and administration of HIV PEP, clinicians should consider occupational exposures as urgent medical concerns. On the basis of this discussion, the PHS working group decided that updated recommendations for the management of occupational exposure to HIV were warranted. This report modifies and expands the list of antiretroviral medications that can be considered for use as PEP. This report also emphasizes prompt management of occupational exposures, selection of tolerable regimens, attention to potential drug interactions involving drugs that could be included in HIV PEP regimens and other medications, consultation with experts for postexposure management strategies (especially determining whether an exposure has actually occurred) and selection of HIV PEP regimens, use of HIV rapid testing, and counseling and follow-up of exposed personnel. Recommendations on the management of occupational exposures to hepatitis B virus or hepatitis C virus have been published previously (3) and are not included in this report. Recommendations for nonoccupational (e.g., sexual, pediatric, and perinatal) HIV exposures also have been published previously (4-6).The definitions of health-care personnel (HCP) and occupational exposures are unchanged from those used in 2001 (3). The term HCP refers to all paid and unpaid persons working in health-care settings who have the potential for exposure to infectious materials (e.g., blood, tissue, and specific body fluids and medical supplies, equipment, or environmental - This interagency working group included representatives from CDC, FDA, the Health Resources and Services Administration, and the National Institutes of Health. Information included in these recommendations might not represent FDA approval or approved labeling for the particular product or indications in question. Specifically, the terms "safe" and "effective" might not be synonymous with the FDA-defined legal standard for product approval.# Introduction
Although preventing exposures to blood and body fluids is the primary means of preventing occupationally acquired human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, appropriate postexposure management is an important element of workplace safety. In 1996, the first U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) recommendations for the use of postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) after occupational exposure to HIV were published; these recommendations have been updated twice (1)(2)(3). Since publication of the most recent guidelines in 2001, new antiretroviral agents have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and additional information has become available regarding the use and safety of HIV PEP. In August 2003, CDC convened a meeting of a PHS interagency working group- and consultants to assess use of HIV PEP. surfaces contaminated with these substances). HCP might include, but are not limited to, emergency medical service personnel, dental personnel, laboratory personnel, autopsy personnel, nurses, nursing assistants, physicians, technicians, therapists, pharmacists, students and trainees, contractual staff not employed by the health-care facility, and persons not directly involved in patient care but potentially exposed to blood and body fluids (e.g., clerical, dietary, housekeeping, maintenance, and volunteer personnel). The same principles of exposure management could be applied to other workers who have potential for occupational exposure to blood and body fluids in other settings.
An exposure that might place HCP at risk for HIV infection is defined as a percutaneous injury (e.g., a needlestick or cut with a sharp object) or contact of mucous membrane or nonintact skin (e.g., exposed skin that is chapped, abraded, or afflicted with dermatitis) with blood, tissue, or other body fluids that are potentially infectious. In addition to blood and visibly bloody body fluids, semen and vaginal secretions also are considered potentially infectious. Although semen and vaginal secretions have been implicated in the sexual transmission of HIV, they have not been implicated in occupational transmission from patients to HCP. The following fluids also are considered potentially infectious: cerebrospinal fluid, synovial fluid, pleural fluid, peritoneal fluid, pericardial fluid, and amniotic fluid. The risk for transmission of HIV infection from these fluids is unknown; the potential risk to HCP from occupational exposures has not been assessed by epidemiologic studies in health-care settings. Feces, nasal secretions, saliva, sputum, sweat, tears, urine, and vomitus are not considered potentially infectious unless they are visibly bloody; the risk for transmission of HIV infection from these fluids and materials is low (7).
Any direct contact (i.e., contact without barrier protection) to concentrated virus in a research laboratory or production facility requires clinical evaluation. For human bites, clinical evaluation must include the possibility that both the person bitten and the person who inflicted the bite were exposed to bloodborne pathogens. Transmission of HIV infection by this route has been reported rarely, but not after an occupational exposure (8)(9)(10)(11)(12).

# Risk for Occupational Transmission of HIV
The risks for occupational transmission of HIV have been described; risks vary with the type and severity of exposure (2,3,7). In prospective studies of HCP, the average risk for HIV transmission after a percutaneous exposure to HIVinfected blood has been estimated to be approximately 0.3% (95% confidence interval  = 0.2%-0.5%) (7) and after a mucous membrane exposure, approximately 0.09% (CI = 0.006%-0.5%) (3). Although episodes of HIV transmission after nonintact skin exposure have been documented, the average risk for transmission by this route has not been precisely quantified but is estimated to be less than the risk for mucous membrane exposures. The risk for transmission after exposure to fluids or tissues other than HIV-infected blood also has not been quantified but is probably considerably lower than for blood exposures.
Epidemiologic and laboratory studies suggest that multiple factors might affect the risk for HIV transmission after an occupational exposure (3). In a retrospective case-control study of HCP who had percutaneous exposure to HIV, increased risk for HIV infection was associated with exposure to a larger quantity of blood from the source person as indicated by 1) a device (e.g., a needle) visibly contaminated with the patient's blood, 2) a procedure that involved a needle being placed directly in a vein or artery, or 3) a deep injury. The risk also was increased for exposure to blood from source persons with terminal illness, possibly reflecting either the higher titer of HIV in blood late in the course of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or other factors (e.g., the presence of syncytia-inducing strains of HIV). A laboratory study that demonstrated that more blood is transferred by deeper injuries and hollow-bore needles lends further support for the observed variation in risk related to blood quantity (3).
The use of source-person viral load as a surrogate measure of viral titer for assessing transmission risk has not yet been established. Plasma viral load (e.g., HIV RNA) reflects only the level of cell-free virus in the peripheral blood; latently infected cells might transmit infection in the absence of viremia. Although a lower viral load (e.g., <1,500 RNA copies/ mL) or one that is below the limits of detection probably indicates a lower titer exposure, it does not rule out the possibility of transmission.

# Antiretroviral Agents for PEP
Antiretroviral agents from five classes of drugs are currently available to treat HIV infection (13,14). These include the nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NtRTIs), nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs), protease inhibitors (PIs), and a single fusion inhibitor. Only antiretroviral agents approved by FDA for treatment of HIV infection are included in these guidelines. The recommendations in this report provide guidance for two-or-more drug PEP regimens on the basis of the level of risk for HIV transmission represented by the exposure (Tables 1 and 2; Appendix).

# Toxicity and Drug Interactions of Antiretroviral Agents
Persons receiving PEP should complete a full 4-week regimen (3). However, as a result of toxicity and side effects among HCP, a substantial proportion of HCP have been unable to complete a full 4-week course of HIV PEP (15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20). Because all antiretroviral agents have been associated with side effects (Table 3), the toxicity profile of these agents, including the frequency, severity, duration, and reversibility of side effects, is an important consideration in selection of an HIV PEP regimen. The majority of data concerning adverse events have been reported primarily for persons with established HIV infection receiving prolonged antiretroviral therapy and therefore might not reflect the experience of uninfected persons who take PEP. Anecdotal evidence from clinicians knowledgeable about HIV treatment indicates that antiretroviral agents are tolerated more poorly among HCP taking HIV PEP than among HIV-infected patients on antiretroviral medications.
Side effects have been reported frequently by persons taking antiretroviral agents as PEP (15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23). In multiple instances, a substantial (range: 17%-47%) proportion of HCP taking PEP after occupational exposures to HIV-positive sources did not complete a full 4-week course of therapy because of inability to tolerate the drugs (15)(16)(17)19,20) (18). In multivariate analysis, those taking regimens that include PI were more likely to experience PEP-associated side effects and to discontinue PEP prematurely (<28 days). Because side effects are frequent and particularly because they are cited as a major reason for not completing PEP regimens as prescribed, the selection of regimens should be heavily influenced toward those that are tolerable for short-term use.
In addition, all approved antiretroviral agents might have potentially serious drug interactions when used with certain other drugs, requiring careful evaluation of concomitant medications, including over-the-counter medications and supplements (e.g., herbals), used by an exposed person before prescribing PEP and close monitoring for toxicity of anyone receiving these drugs (24-33) (Tables 3-5). PIs and NNRTIs have the greatest potential for interactions with other drugs. Information regarding potential drug interactions has been published (13,(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33). Additional information is included in the manufacturers' package inserts. Because of interactions, certain drugs should not be administered concomitantly with PIs or with efavirenz (EFV) (Tables 4 and 5). Consultation with a pharmacist might be considered.

# Selection of HIV PEP Regimens
Determining which agents and how many to use or when to alter a PEP regimen is primarily empiric (34). Guidelines for treating HIV infection, a condition typically involving a high total body burden of HIV, recommend use of three or more drugs (13,14); however, the applicability of these recommendations to PEP is unknown. Among HIV-infected patients, combination regimens with three or more antiretroviral agents have proved superior to monotherapy and dual-therapy regimens in reducing HIV viral load, reducing incidence of opportunistic infections and death, and delaying onset of drug resistance (13,14). In theory, a combination of drugs with activity at different stages in the viral replication cycle (e.g., nucleoside analogues with a PI) might offer an additive preventive effect in PEP, particularly for occupational exposures that pose an increased risk for transmission or for transmission of a resistant virus. Although use of a three-(or more) drug regimen might be justified for exposures that pose an increased risk for transmission, whether the potential added toxicity of a third or fourth drug is justified for lower-risk exposures is uncertain, especially in the absence of data supporting increased efficacy of more drugs in the context of occupational PEP. Offering a two-drug regimen is a viable option, primarily because the benefit of completing a full course of this regimen exceeds the benefit of adding the third agent and risking noncompletion (35). In addition, the total body burden of HIV is substantially lower among exposed HCP than among persons with established HIV infection. For these reasons, the recommendations in this report provide guidance for two-and three-(or more) drug PEP regimens on the basis of the level of risk for HIV transmission represented by the exposure (Tables 1 and 2; Appendix).

# Resistance to Antiretroviral Agents
Known or suspected resistance of the source virus to antiretroviral agents, particularly those that might be included in a PEP regimen, is a concern for persons making decisions about PEP (36). Drug resistance to all available antiretroviral agents has been reported, and cross-resistance within drug classes is frequent (37). Although occupational transmission of drug-resistant HIV strains has been reported despite PEP with combination drug regimens (36,(38)(39)(40), the effect of exposure to a resistant virus on transmission and transmissibility is not well understood. Since publication of the previous guidelines, an additional report of an occupational HIV seroconversion despite combination HIV PEP has been published (Table 6) ( 38), bringing the total number of reports worldwide to six. The exposure was a percutaneous injury sustained by a nurse performing a phlebotomy on a heavily treatment-experienced patient. At the time of the exposure, the source patient was failing treat-ment with stavudine (d4T), lamivudine (3TC), ritonavir (RTV), and saquinavir (SQV) and had a history of previous treatment with zidovudine (ZDV) and zalcitabine (ddC). Genotypic resistance testing performed within 1 month of the exposure suggested resistance to ZDV and 3TC. Phenotypic testing confirmed resistance to 3TC but demonstrated relative susceptibility to ZDV and d4T. The source virus demonstrated no evidence of resistance to nevirapine (NVP) or other NNRTIs. The initial HIV PEP regimen started within 95 minutes of the exposure was ZDV, 3TC, and indinavir.   The worker was referred to a hospital where the regimen was changed within 6 hours of the exposure to didanosine (ddI), d4T, and NVP because of concerns regarding possible drug resistance to certain or all of the components of the initial PEP regimen. The exposed worker stopped ddI after 8 days because of symptoms but continued to take d4T and NVP, stopping at day 24 because of a generalized macular pruritic rash and mild thrombocytopenia. Seroconversion was documented at 3 months. Sequencing of viruses from the source and exposed worker demonstrated their close relatedness. Virus from the worker demonstrated the same resistance patterns as those in the source patient. In addition, the worker's virus had a mutation suggesting resistance to the NNRTI class (38).
Empiric decisions regarding the presence of antiretroviral drug resistance are often difficult because patients frequently take more than one antiretroviral agent. Resistance should be suspected in a source patient when clinical progression of disease or a persistently increasing viral load or decline in CD4+ T-cell count occurs despite therapy, or when no virologic response to therapy occurs. However, resistance testing of the source virus at the time of an exposure is impractical because the results will not be available in time to influence the choice of the initial PEP regimen. No data suggest that modification of a PEP regimen after resistance testing results become available (usually 1-2 weeks) improves efficacy of PEP (41).

# Antiretroviral Drugs During Pregnancy
Data regarding the potential effects of antiretroviral drugs on the developing fetus or neonate are limited (3). Carcinogenicity and mutagenicity are evident in certain in vitro screening tests for ZDV and all other FDA-licensed NRTIs. The relevance of animal data to humans is unknown; however, because teratogenic effects were reported among primates at drug exposures similar to those representing human therapeutic exposure, pregnant women should not use efavirenz (EFV). Indinavir (IDV) is associated with infrequent side effects in adults (i.e., hyperbilirubinemia and renal stones) that could be problematic for a newborn. Because the halflife of IDV in adults is short, these concerns might be relevant only if the drug is administered shortly before delivery. Other concerns regarding use of PEP during pregnancy have been raised by reports of mitochondrial dysfunction leading to neurologic disease and death among uninfected children whose mothers had taken antiretroviral drugs to prevent perinatal HIV transmission and of fatal and nonfatal lactic acidosis in pregnant women treated throughout gestation with a combination of d4T and ddI (3).

# Management of Occupational Exposure by Emergency Physicians
Although PHS guidelines for the management of occupational exposures to HIV were first published in 1985 (42), HCP often are not familiar with these guidelines. Focus groups conducted among emergency department (ED) physicians in 2002 indicated that of 71 participants, >95% had not read the 2001 guidelines before being invited to participate (43). All physicians participating in these focus groups had managed occupational exposures to blood or body fluids. They cited three challenges in exposure management most frequently: evaluation of an unknown source patient or a source patient who refused testing, inexperience in managing occupational HIV exposures, and counseling of exposed workers in busy EDs.  2004). For 14 (11.9%) HCP, the recommendation was to decrease the number of drugs in the PEP regimens; for 22 (18.7%) HCP, the recommendation was to increase the number of drugs; and for nine (7.6%), the recommendation was to change the PEP regimen, keeping the same number of drugs.

# Occupational HIV

# Recommendations for the Management of HCP Potentially Exposed to HIV
Exposure prevention remains the primary strategy for reducing occupational bloodborne pathogen infections. However, occupational exposures will continue to occur, and PEP will remain an important element of exposure management.

# HIV PEP
The recommendations provided in this report (Tables 1 and  2; Appendix) apply to situations in which HCP have been exposed to a source person who either has or is considered likely to have HIV infection. These recommendations are based on the risk for HIV infection after different types of exposure and on limited data regarding efficacy and toxicity of PEP. If PEP is offered and taken and the source is later determined to be HIV-negative, PEP should be discontinued. Although concerns have been expressed regarding HIV-negative sources being in the window period for seroconversion, no case of transmission involving an exposure source during the window period has been reported in the United States (39). Rapid HIV testing of source patients can facilitate making timely decisions regarding use of HIV PEP after occupational exposures to sources of unknown HIV status. Because the majority of occupational HIV exposures do not result in transmission of HIV, potential toxicity must be considered when prescribing PEP. Because of the complexity of selecting HIV PEP regimens, when possible, these recommendations should be implemented in consultation with persons having expertise in antiretroviral therapy and HIV transmission. Reevaluation of exposed HCP should be strongly encouraged within 72 hours postexposure, especially as additional information about the exposure or source person becomes available.

# Timing and Duration of PEP
PEP should be initiated as soon as possible, preferably within hours rather than days of exposure. If a question exists concerning which antiretroviral drugs to use, or whether to use a basic or expanded regimen, the basic regimen should be started immediately rather than delay PEP administration. The optimal duration of PEP is unknown. Because 4 weeks of ZDV appeared protective in occupational and animal studies, PEP should be administered for 4 weeks, if tolerated (49)(50)(51)(52).

# Recommendations for the Selection of Drugs for HIV PEP
The selection of a drug regimen for HIV PEP must balance the risk for infection against the potential toxicities of the agent(s) used. Because PEP is potentially toxic, its use is not justified for exposures that pose a negligible risk for transmission (Tables 1 and 2). The initial HIV PEP regimens recommended in these guidelines should be viewed as suggestions that can be changed if additional information is obtained concerning the source of the occupational exposure (e.g., possible treatment history or antiretroviral drug resistance) or if expert consultation is provided. Given the complexity of choosing and administering HIV PEP, whenever possible, consultation with an infectious diseases consultant or another physician who has experience with antiretroviral agents is recommended, but it should not delay timely initiation of PEP.
Consideration should be given to the comparative risk represented by the exposure and information regarding the exposure source, including history of and response to antiretroviral therapy based on clinical response, CD4+ T-cell counts, viral load measurements, and current disease stage. When the source person's virus is known or suspected to be resistant to one or more of the drugs considered for the PEP regimen, the selection of drugs to which the source person's virus is unlikely to be resistant is recommended; expert consultation is advised. If this information is not immediately available, initiation of PEP, if indicated, should not be delayed; changes   in the regimen can be made after PEP has started, as appropriate. For HCP who initiate PEP, re-evaluation of the exposed person should occur within 72 hours postexposure, especially if additional information about the exposure or source person becomes available.
PHS continues to recommend stratification of HIV PEP regimens based on the severity of exposure and other considerations (e.g., concern for antiretroviral drug resistance in the exposure source). The majority of HIV exposures will warrant a two-drug regimen, using two NRTIs or one NRTI and one NtRTI (Tables 1 and 2; Appendix). Combinations that can be considered for PEP include ZDV and 3TC or emtricitabine (FTC); d4T and 3TC or FTC; and tenofovir (TDF) and 3TC or FTC. In the previous PHS guidelines, a combination of d4T and ddI was considered one of the firstchoice PEP regimens; however, this regimen is no longer recommended because of concerns about toxicity (especially neuropathy and pancreatitis) and the availability of more tolerable alternative regimens (3).
The addition of a third (or even a fourth) drug should be considered for exposures that pose an increased risk for transmission or that involve a source in whom antiretroviral drug resistance is likely. The addition of a third drug for PEP after a high-risk exposure is based on demonstrated effectiveness in reducing viral burden in HIV-infected persons. However, no definitive data exist that demonstrate increased efficacy of three-compared with two-drug HIV PEP regimens. Previously, IDV, nelfinavir (NFV), EFV, or abacavir (ABC) were recommended as first-choice agents for inclusion in an expanded PEP regimen (3).
PHS now recommends that expanded PEP regimens be PIbased. The PI preferred for use in expanded PEP regimens is lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/RTV). Other PIs acceptable for use in expanded PEP regimens include atazanavir, fosamprenavir, RTV-boosted IDV, RTV-boosted SQV, or NFV (Appendix). Although side effects are common with NNRTIs, EFV may be considered for expanded PEP regimens, especially when resistance to PIs in the source person's virus is known or suspected. Caution is advised when EFV is used in women of childbearing age because of the risk of teratogenicity.
Drugs that may be considered as alternatives to the expanded regimens, with warnings about side effects and other adverse events, are EFV or PIs as noted in the Appendix in combination with ddl and either 3TC or FTC. The fusion inhibitor enfuvirtide (T20) has theoretic benefits for use in PEP because its activity occurs before viral-host cell integration; however, it is not recommended for routine HIV PEP because of the mode of administration (subcutaneous injection twice daily). Furthermore, use of T20 has the potential for production of anti-T20 antibodies that cross react with HIV gp41. This could result in a false-positive, enzyme immunoassay (EIA) HIV antibody test among HIV-uninfected patients. A confirmatory Western blot test would be expected to be negative in such cases. T20 should only be used with expert consultation.
Antiviral drugs not recommended for use as PEP, primarily because of the higher risk for potentially serious or lifethreatening adverse events, include ABC, delavirdine, ddC, and, as noted previously, the combination of ddI and d4T. NVP should not be included in PEP regimens except with expert consultation because of serious reported side effects, including hepatotoxicty (with one instance of fulminant liver failure requiring liver transplantation), rhabdomyolysis, and hypersensitivity syndrome (53)(54)(55).
Because of the complexity of selection of HIV PEP regimens, consultation with persons having expertise in antiretroviral therapy and HIV transmission is strongly recommended. Certain institutions have required consultation with a hospital epidemiologist or infectious diseases consultant when HIV PEP use is under consideration. This can be especially important in management of a pregnant or breastfeeding worker or a worker who has been exposed to a heavily treatment-experienced source (Box 1).
Resources for consultation are available from the following sources:
- circumstances (e.g., exposure to a source co-infected with HIV and HCV in the absence of HCV seroconversion or for exposed persons with a medical history suggesting an impaired ability to mount an antibody response to acute infection) is unclear. Although rare instances of delayed HIV seroconversion have been reported (56,57), the infrequency of this occurrence does not warrant adding to exposed persons' anxiety by routinely extending the duration of postexposure follow-up. However, this should not preclude a decision to extend follow-up in a particular situation based on the clinical judgment of the exposed person's health-care provider. The routine use of direct virus assays (e.g., HIV p24 antigen EIA or tests for HIV ribonucleic acid) to detect infection among exposed HCP usually is not recommended (58). Despite the ability of direct virus assays to detect HIV infection a few days earlier than EIA, the infrequency of occupational seroconversion and increased costs of these tests do not warrant their routine use in this setting. In addition, the relatively high rate of false-positive results of these tests in this setting could lead to unnecessary anxiety or treatment (59,60). Nevertheless, HIV testing should be performed on any exposed person who has an illness compatible with an acute retroviral syndrome, regardless of the interval since exposure.
A person in whom HIV infection is identified should be referred for medical management to a specialist with expertise in HIV treatment and counseling. Health-care providers caring for persons with occupationally acquired HIV infection can report these cases to CDC at telephone 800-893-0485 or to their state health departments.

# Monitoring and Management of PEP Toxicity
If PEP is used, HCP should be monitored for drug toxicity by testing at baseline and again 2 weeks after starting PEP. The scope of testing should be based on medical conditions in the exposed person and the toxicity of drugs included in the PEP regimen. Minimally, laboratory monitoring for toxicity should include a complete blood count and renal and hepatic function tests. Monitoring for evidence of hyperglycemia should be included for HCP whose regimens include any PI; if the exposed person is receiving IDV, monitoring for crystalluria, hematuria, hemolytic anemia, and hepatitis also should be included. If toxicity is noted, modification of the regimen should be considered after expert consultation; further diagnostic studies might be indicated.
Exposed HCP who choose to take PEP should be advised of the importance of completing the prescribed regimen. Information should be provided about potential drug interactions and drugs that should not be taken with PEP, side effects of prescribed drugs, measures to minimize side effects, and methods of clinical monitoring for toxicity during the follow-up period. HCP should be advised that evaluation of certain symptoms (e.g., rash, fever, back or abdominal pain, pain on urination or blood in the urine, or symptoms of hyperglycemia (e.g., increased thirst or frequent urination) should not be delayed.
HCP often fail to complete the recommended regimen often because they experience side effects (e.g., nausea or diarrhea). These symptoms often can be managed with antimotility and antiemetic agents or other medications that target specific symptoms without changing the regimen. In other situations, modifying the dose interval (i.e., administering a lower dose of drug more frequently throughout the day, as recommended by the manufacturer) might facilitate adherence to the regimen. Serious adverse events  should be reported to FDA's MedWatch program.
Although recommendations for follow-up testing, monitoring, and counseling of exposed HCP are unchanged from those published previously (3), greater emphasis is needed on improving follow-up care provided to exposed HCP (Box 2). This might result in increased adherence to HIV PEP regimens, better management of associated symptoms with ancillary medications or regimen changes, improved detection of serious adverse effects, and serologic testing among a larger proportion of exposed personnel to determine if infection is transmitted after occupational exposures. Closer follow-up should in turn reassure HCP who become anxious after these events (61,62). The psychologic impact on HCP of needlesticks or exposure to blood or body fluid should not be underestimated. Providing HCP with psychologic counseling should be an essential component of the management and care of exposed HCP.

# Reevaluation and Updating of HIV PEP Guidelines
As new antiretroviral agents for treatment of HIV infection and additional information concerning early HIV infection and prevention of HIV transmission become available, the PHS Interagency Working Group will assess the need to update these guidelines. Updates will be published periodically as appropriate.  Defined by FDA as follows: "Any adverse drug experience occurring at any dose that results in any of the following outcomes: death, a life-threatening adverse drug experience, inpatient hospitalization or prolongation of existing hospitalization, a persistent or significant disability/incapacity, or a congenital anomaly/birth defect. Important medical events that may not result in death, be life-threatening, or require hospitalization may be considered a serious adverse drug experience when, based upon appropriate medical judgment, they may jeopardize the patient or subject and may require medical or surgical intervention to prevent one of the outcomes listed in this definition" (63).

# APPENDIX Basic and Expanded HIV Postexposure Prophylaxis Regimens

# BASIC REGIMEN
- Zidovudine (RetrovirTM; ZDV; AZT) + lamivudine (Epivir  ; 3TC); available as CombivirTM Preferred dosing -ZDV: 300 mg twice daily or 200 mg three times daily, with food; total: 600 mg daily -3TC: 300 mg once daily or 150 mg twice daily -Combivir: one tablet twice daily Dosage forms -ZDV: 100 mg capsule, 300 mg tablet -3TC: 150 or 300 mg tablet -Combivir: tablet, 300 mg ZDV + 150 mg 3TC Advantages -ZDV associated with decreased risk for HIV transmission -ZDV used more often than other drugs for PEP for health-care personnel (HCP) -Serious toxicity rare when used for PEP -Side effects predictable and manageable with antimotility and antiemetic agents -Can be used by pregnant HCP -Can be given as a single tablet (COMBIVIRTM) twice daily Disadvantages -Side effects (

# Continuing Nursing Education (CNE).
This activity for 1.9 contact hours is provided by CDC, which is accredited as a provider of continuing education in nursing by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation. You must complete and return the response form electronically or by mail by September 30, 2007, to receive continuing education credit. If you answer all of the questions, you will receive an award letter for 1. 5

# Goal and Objectives
This report provides recommendations regarding clinical practice for managing occupational exposures to HIV in health-care settings, including appropriate use of HIV postexposure prophylaxis (PEP). The goal of this report is to provide recommendations for guiding clinical practice in managing PEP for health-care personnel (HCP) with occupational exposure to HIV. Upon completion of this educational activity, the reader should be able to a) describe occupational exposures for which exposure management is appropriate; b) describe the appropriate selection of HIV PEP; c) describe the appropriate use of HIV PEP; d) describe the follow-up evaluation of exposed HCP; e) describe the follow-up counseling of exposed HCP; and f) list situations for which expert consultation in the management of occupational exposures is recommended.
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