Information About HIV Post-Exposure Prophylaxis

Posted by ElyonClinic on June 7th, 2016

HIV PEP Singapore is any prophylactic (preventive) treatment started immediately after exposure to blood or bodily liquid contaminated with a pathogen (such as a disease-causing virus), in order to prevent infection and the development of illness.

Although multiple diseases can be transmitted from exposure to blood, the most serious infections are hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and HIV. Fortunately, the risk of obtaining any of these infections is low.

In order to be exposed to a blood borne pathogen, you must have contact with blood, a visibly bloody liquid (i.e., phlegm or urine containing blood), or another bodily liquid (i.e., semen or vaginal secretions) that contain an infectious organism (virus or bacteria). The blood or liquid must come in direct contact with some part of your body. HIV PEP Singapore can enter your body through the bloodstream, open skin, or mucous membranes, which include the eye, mouth, or genitals. Contact with skin that is intact (without new cuts, scrapes, or rashes) poses no risk of infection.

Thus, exposure to a blood borne pathogen is feasible after:

A skin injury such as a needle stick or cut with a sharp object and/or contact with a mucous membrane (including exposure through sexual activity, if an ulcer is present or vaginal/rectal tissues are injured) or non-intact skin.

What do I do after blood or body liquid exposure?

Wash the area - The first and most important step after being exposed to blood or bodily fluids is to wash the area well with soap and water. You can neat tiny wounds and punctures with an antiseptic such as an alcohol-based hand gel, since alcohol kills HIV PEP Singapore, hepatitis B virus, and hepatitis C virus. However, the alcohol may sting. For mucosal surfaces (mouth, nose), the area ought to be flushed with copious amounts of water. Eyes ought to be flushed with saline or water. There is no proof that expressing liquid by squeezing the wound will further reduce the risk of blood borne infection.