Post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV infection in sexual assault victims

Sexual assault (SA) is recognized as a public health problem of epidemic proportions. Guidelines recommend the administration of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) after an SA. However, few data are available about the feasibility of this strategy, and this study was conducted to assess this.

We conducted a retrospective, longitudinal, observational study in SA victims attending the Hospital Clinic in Barcelona from 2006 to 2015. A total of 1695 SA victims attended the emergency room (ER), of whom 883 met the PEP criteria. Five follow-up visits were scheduled at days 1, 10, 28, 90 and 180 in the out-patient clinic. The primary endpoint was PEP completion rate at day 28. Secondary endpoints were loss to follow-up, treatment discontinuation, occurrence of adverse events (AEs) and rate of seroconversion.

The median age of participants was 25 years [interquartile range (IQR) 21-33 years] and 93% were female. The median interval between exposure and presentation at the ER was 13 h (IQR 6-24 h). The level of risk was appreciable in 47% (n = 466) of individuals. Of 883 patients receiving PEP, 631 lived in Catalonia. In this group, the PEP completion rate at day 28 was 29% (n = 183). The follow-up rate was 63% (n = 400) and 38% (n = 241) at days 1 and 28, respectively. Treatment discontinuation was present in 58 (15%) of 400 patients who attended at least the day 1 visit, the main reason being AEs (n = 35; 60%). AEs were reported in 226 (56%) patients, and were mainly gastrointestinal (n = 196; 49%). Only 211 (33%) patients returned for HIV testing at day 90. A single seroconversion was observed in a men who have sex with men (MSM) patient at day 120.

Follow-up and compliance rates in SA victims were poor. In addition, > 50% of the patients experienced AEs, which were the main reason for PEP interruption. Strategies to increase follow-up testing and new better tolerated drug regimens must be investigated to address these issues.