Now a new 24-hour emergency hotline for clinicians who need advice on treating patients who have suffered occupational exposures to blood has opened to help provide prompt and appropriate treatment. PEPLine offers the most current information on treatment for occupational exposures. Callers to PEPLine will receive immediate advice from physicians, clinical pharmacists or nurse practitioners. Non-emergency calls will be returned during business hours. Written materials expanding on the telephone discussion will be sent when needed.
Antiretroviral therapy is potentially a life-saver.
However, therapy should be started as soon as possible after an exposure. That's why the PEPLine can make a difference. The Needlestick Hotline was developed by Gerberding in 1988 to provide immediate treatment to exposed health care workers at SFGH and has served as a model for similar programs. Health care workers are justifiably concerned about this issue and they need the most current information. The development of new antiretroviral drugs has given hope to HIV-infected persons and to exposed health care workers.