HIV Post-Exposure Protocol
The Pediatric Infectious Disease Services at UMass Memorial Children's Medical Center answers many questions about the risks of developing HIV after various types of exposures. Our staff is also able to make recommendations about treatment to prevent HIV infection after such exposures occur.
Early treatment after HIV exposure is designed to limit viral replication, so rapid initiation of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is important. Recommendations are that PEP start as soon as possible after exposure - optimally within hours. For this reason, we recommend that emergency rooms have ready access to these medications and that the first doses of PEP be administered before patients leave the emergency room. Delays in obtaining medications because of insurance problems, pharmacy hours, nonavailability of medications or transportation issues can render PEP ineffective.
UMass Memorial offers the links on the right to help physicians evaluate their patients and to answer questions about PEP.
Staff and Contact Information
A pediatric infectious disease specialist is available by telephone to answer questions about exposure to HIV, risks of infection and post-exposure prophylaxis. Call 508-334-1000 and ask to page the pediatric infectious disease physician on call.
To provide optimal and specific advice, we ask that physicians review the history of the patient, and the source and nature of the exposure on the call.
Pediatric Immunology/Rheumatology Specialists
William Jerry Durbin, MD
Katherine Ruiz de Luzuriaga, MD, Chief, Pediatric Immunology, Infectious Disease and Rheumatology
John Sullivan, MD