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Antiretrovirals for HIV PrEP frequently misused

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Results from a study of Australian men who have sex with men indicated that antiretroviral medications are being used incorrectly, according to a presentation at the 2013 International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The CDC recommends daily usage of antiretrovirals for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent HIV infection, although they are currently unapproved in Australia. In an online survey conducted of 685 MSM, 27 men reported they had used anti-HIV medication, and 18 of those 27 reported to have only used it once. Of the 27 PrEP users, 81% said they had taken antiretrovirals as PrEP after sex, and 85% of the users said they had taken the antiretrovirals after they thought they had been exposed to HIV. Four men reported using PrEP both before and after sex.

“Such poor understanding of PrEP poses significant issues not only for HIV prevention, but also for the monitoring of PrEP use and adherence to PrEP,” researchers wrote. “Refining the measures of [post-exposure prophylaxis] and PrEP use may be largely futile without first providing education and information about [antiretroviral]-based prevention methods in the community.”

For more information:

Zablotska A. Abstract MOLBPE26. Presented at: 7th IAS Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention; June 30-July 03, 2013; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.