[Sexual exposure to HIV in the French armed forces between 2005 and 2007]

Non-occupational HIV exposure in the French forces has been placed under epidemiological surveillance since 2000. This surveillance programme provides an indirect indicator of risky sexual behaviour among military personnel.

All cases of non-occupational exposures in French military personnel that meet the notification criteria, wherever they occur, are reported by a military physician, with data being collected from 2005 to 2007.

Between January 2005 and December 2007, 2241 cases of sexual exposure within the French forces were filed. The annual incidence was 214.3 per 100,000 with an average patient age of 26 years. Sexual exposures concerned men in 99.2% of cases and occurred overseas in 92.9% of cases. Partners were sex-workers in 66.7% of cases. Failure to use condoms adequately during sexual intercourse was reported in 15.5% of cases. In cases where condoms were used, exposure to HIV resulted either from condom rupture or slippage. Postexposure HIV prophylaxis was prescribed in 70.5% of cases.

The majority of cases of sexual exposure reported in the French armed forces involved high risk of HIV transmission. However, since the beginning of surveillance in 2000, no cases of HIV seroconversion have been reported following postexposure antiretroviral prophylaxis. The non-occupational postexposure prophylaxis strategy is not in question.