The CDC has released the 2025 Guidelines for the Management of Occupational Exposure to HIV and Recommendations for Postexposure Prophylaxis (PEP). SHEA published a release on the guidelines.
The new guidelines “reaffirm many of the practices recommended in the 2013 PHS [U.S. Public Health Service] guidelines while incorporating major updates that reflect the latest evidence and therapeutic advances. The recommendations provide practical, evidence-based guidance for healthcare personnel (HCP) following occupational exposures to HIV.”
Some important updates include “new antiretroviral regimens for PEP;” “shorted duration of follow-up HIV testing after occupational exposure;” “elimination of routine follow-up laboratory testing for antiretroviral drug toxicity” in certain situations; “considerations for PEP in cases where the source patient has an undetectable viral load;” and “guidance for healthcare personnel already on pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) at the time of occupational exposure.”
The new guidelines “continue to emphasize the importance of prompt evaluation and initiation of PEP following occupational exposures, while streamlining follow-up protocols to reduce unnecessary testing and burden on healthcare personnel,” according to SHEA.
