HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis

Abstract

The incidence of new HIV infections remains high despite efforts in early diagnosis and treatment in the last decade. In Western Europe and in countries where access to health care is not an obstacle, there have been changes in epidemiology. The subgroup of men who have sex with men has been particularly targeted and Portugal is no exception. In 2015, for the first time since 1984, more than 50% of the diagnoses of HIV infection in men were made in this group and represent 69.7% of the diagnoses in individuals, men or women, under the age of 30 years. This reality has forced to think about new ways of acting including the concept of pre-exposure prophylaxis to HIV, which is already a reality in some countries. In this article the authors review the current knowledge on the subject. Dermatologists and Venereologists should be alert to a possible increase in the incidence of other sexually transmitted infections as, in the context of this prophylaxis the adoption of risk behaviours may potentially facilitate transmission of new infections.