Search results
Search results for "antiretroviral"
HAART prevents the HIV virus from making copies of itself and limits how much virus is in the body. The level of virus in the blood is called ‘viral load’. When the viral load is low or “undetectable”, there is less harm to the body’s...
PrEP is different from PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis), as PrEP is taken before exposure to HIV and may be taken on a long-term basis. How does it work? PrEP usually comes as a combination tablet that contains two medications called...
In most cases, PEP stops HIV from establishing itself in the body and will prevent you from becoming HIV positive. To be effective, the treatment needs to be started as soon as possible in the first 72 hours after exposure. The treatment...
Preventing STIs An STI is caused when a bacteria, virus, or parasite is passed from one person to another during sexual contact. Some kinds of sex have a lower chance of passing STIs. For example, the chance of passing an STI is much less...
Causes HIV is passed through vaginal and anal sexual contact. This includes both penetrative sex and sexual activities where there is an exchange of body fluids. There is a very low chance that HIV may be passed through oral...
What is PrEP PrEP stands for Pre-exposure Prophylaxis. It is the use of daily antiretroviral therapy (ART) by HIV negative individuals to lower their chances of getting HIV. PrEP refers to the ongoing use of ART before and after possible...
What is PrEP PrEP stands for Pre-exposure Prophylaxis. It is the use of daily (or on demand) oral antiretroviral therapy (ART) by HIV negative individuals to reduce the risk of acquiring HIV. PrEP refers to ongoing use of ART before and...
Background Since 2009, BCCDC has been using a more sensitive HIV test (known as the NAAT - nucleic acid amplification test) for patients who present for HIV testing at several clinics in downtown Vancouver. These clinics - the BCCDC...
Articles Reviewed Partners PrEP Study: Baeten JM et al. Antiretroviral prophylaxis for HIV prevention in heterosexual men and women. New England Journal of Medicine. 2012 Aug 2;367(5):399-410. FEM PrEP Study: Van Damme L et al. Pre-...
Article reviewed Dalla Pria A, Alfa-Wali M, Fox P, Holmes P, Weir J, Francis N, et al. High-resolution anoscopy screening of HIV positive MSM: longitudinal results from a pilot study. Aids. 2014;28:861-7 Purpose The prevalence and...
This article was first published in CATIE News (April 10, 2014). Background The sexual transmission of HIV occurs after an exposure to fluids that contain HIV, such as semen and fluids from the vagina and rectum. The amount of virus in...
The British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) is often asked to comment on infectious diseases in the province. Questions about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are common, and often get attention from both the public and...
Background Behavioral interventions have been effective at lowering HIV transmission rates in British Columbia. Along with treatment as prevention, they remain the cornerstone of HIV prevention. However, infection rates have plateaued for...