Johns Hopkins HIV Guide
Post-exposure prophylaxis
DEFINITION
- Exposure to HIV is a medical emergency. post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) should be initiated within 2 hours and no later than 72 hours after exposure.
- Often classified as occupational (oPEP; e.g., needlestick), non-occupational (nPEP; sexual exposure or injection drug use)
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Last updated: September 13, 2025
Citation
Hoffmann, Christopher J, and Michael Melia. "Post-exposure Prophylaxis." Johns Hopkins HIV Guide, The Johns Hopkins University, 2025. Johns Hopkins Guides, www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_HIV_Guide/545168/all/Post_exposure_prophylaxis.
Hoffmann CJ, Melia M. Post-exposure prophylaxis. Johns Hopkins HIV Guide. The Johns Hopkins University; 2025. https://www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_HIV_Guide/545168/all/Post_exposure_prophylaxis. Accessed November 4, 2025.
Hoffmann, C. J., & Melia, M. (2025). Post-exposure prophylaxis. In Johns Hopkins HIV Guide. The Johns Hopkins University. https://www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_HIV_Guide/545168/all/Post_exposure_prophylaxis
Hoffmann CJ, Melia M. Post-exposure Prophylaxis [Internet]. In: Johns Hopkins HIV Guide. The Johns Hopkins University; 2025. [cited 2025 November 04]. Available from: https://www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_HIV_Guide/545168/all/Post_exposure_prophylaxis.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
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T1 - Post-exposure prophylaxis
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AU - Melia,Michael,M.D.
Y1 - 2025/09/13/
BT - Johns Hopkins HIV Guide
UR - https://www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_HIV_Guide/545168/all/Post_exposure_prophylaxis
PB - The Johns Hopkins University
DB - Johns Hopkins Guides
DP - Unbound Medicine
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