22 July :One day workshop on HIV Post Exposure Prophylaxis was conducted by Regional AIDS Training Center and Network in India RATNEI), International Health Organization (IHO) for the paramedical staff and other administrative staff members of newly functional Navjeevan Community Care Center for PLWHA at Kurji Holi Family Hospital Campus, Patna. Sister Fancia, Incharge of the community care center welcomed the guests. During the session Dr Diwakar Tejaswi informed that by percutaneous exposure of HIV infected needle there is on an average 0.3% chance of acquiring infection whereas by the needle prick of Hepatitis B positive person ( where both HBsAg and HBeAg ) infected blood, there is 50% chance of acquiring the infection.
In HIV infected needle prick case, if the Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) medication ( 2 or 3 drug combination, Basic/ Expanded Regimen depending upon Source Code and Exposure Code) is taken for 28 days, the chance of acquiring HIV infection reduces by more than 80% but PEP medication ideally be started within 6 hrs of exposure. Dr Tejaswi stressed that all nursing homes, hospitals, labs etc should keep PEP medicine always available because the time of start of medicine is crucial. In animal models, starting PEP after 72 hours of exposure resulted in no benefit in prevetion of infection.
He cited with exapmle that in last 4 years 11 cases of accidental prick injury with infected blood came to his notice but after timely PEP, none got the infection (seroconverted ) after 6 months. During the workshop it was stressed by him that Universal Work Precautions is must during handling the blood, blood products, blood mixed fluids etc.