Guideline

Guidelines for HIV post-exposure prophylaxis

Year of Publication

2025

Issuing Institution

World Health Organization

Links

Recommendations

11 included recommendations

HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) should be delivered in community settings

Status

Updated

Recommended in favor

Strong

Certainty of evidence

Very low

Task sharing should be employed to dispense, distribute, provide and monitor HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP)

Status

Updated

Recommended in favor

Strong

Certainty of evidence

Very low

An HIV post-exposure prophylaxis regimen with two ARV drugs is effective, but three drugs are preferred

Status

Maintained

Recommended in favor

Conditional

Certainty of evidence

Low

tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) + lamivudine (3TC) or emtricitabine (FTC) is recommended as the preferred backbone regimen for HIV post-exposure prophylaxis

Status

Maintained

Recommended in favor

Strong

Certainty of evidence

Low

Adults and adolescents. Dolutegravir (DTG) is recommended as the preferred third drug for HIV postexposure prophylaxis

Status

Maintained

Recommended in favor

Strong

Certainty of evidence

Low

Adults and adolescents. When available, atazanavir/r (ATV/r), darunavir/r (DRV/r), lopinavir/r (LPV/r) and RAL may be considered as alternative third drug options for post-exposure prophylaxis

Status

Maintained

Recommended in favor

Strong

Certainty of evidence

Low

Children. When available, atazanavir/r (ATV/r), darunavir/r (DRV/r), lopinavir/r and RAL may be considered as alternative third drug options for post-exposure prophylaxis

Status

Maintained

Recommended in favor

Strong

Certainty of evidence

Low

zidovudine (AZT) + lamivudine (3TC) is recommended as the preferred backbone regimen for HIV post-exposure prophylaxis for children. Abacavir (ABC) + 3TC or tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) + 3TC or emtricitabine (FTC) can be considered as alternative regimens

Status

Maintained

Recommended in favor

Strong

Certainty of evidence

Low

Children. Dolutegravir (DTG) is recommended as the preferred third drug for HIV post-exposure prophylaxis with approved DTG dosing

Status

Maintained

Recommended in favor

Strong

Certainty of evidence

Low

A full 28-day prescription of antiretroviral drugs should be provided for HIV post-exposure prophylaxis following initial risk assessment

Status

Maintained

Recommended in favor

Strong

Certainty of evidence

Low

Enhanced adherence counselling is suggested for all individuals initiating HIV post-exposure prophylaxis

Status

Maintained

Recommended in favor

Strong

Certainty of evidence

Low