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Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Abstract

Background/aim: Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) plays a vital role in preventing transmission among healthcare workers following occupational exposure. Despite its clinical importance, epidemiological data regarding PEP implementation in Türkiye remain scarce. This study aimed to assess PEP practices, prophylactic treatment regimens, and follow-up outcomes among healthcare workers at risk of occupational HIV exposure.

Materials and methods: This retrospective, multicenter study was conducted between January 2020 and December 2024 across 16 healthcare facilities participating in the National HIV/AIDS Working Group. Healthcare workers aged 18 years and older who presented for evaluation following occupational exposure to HIV were included. Data on demographics, exposure characteristics, source patient test results, PEP initiation timing, regimen preferences, adverse effects, and follow-up outcomes were collected from hospital records and analyzed using SPSS version 25.0.

Results: A total of 369 healthcare workers were assessed. The PEP initiation rate was 49.1%. Needlestick injuries accounted for 79.4% of occupational exposures, and nurses constituted nearly half of presentations (49.6%). In univariable analyses, PEP initiation was less frequent among nurses than among other healthcare staff. In the multivariable model, male gender and age ≥40 years were independently associated with higher odds of PEP initiation, whereas nursing profession was associated with lower odds. The median time to PEP initiation was 17.9 hours (range: 0–120). Adverse effects were uncommon (3.5%), most frequently nausea and vomiting. No HIV seroconversions were identified among individuals with available follow-up results; however, follow-up testing at the predefined time points was incomplete, which limits the ability to exclude rare late seroconversions

Conclusion: Timely initiation of HIV PEP appears feasible and well tolerated in real-world occupational settings. These findings highlight the need for standardized institutional protocols and improved follow-up strategies for healthcare workers in Türkiye.

Author ORCID Identifier

VEYSEL AKCA: 0000-0001-8619-4851

İLKAY AKBULUT: 0000-0002-4840-6865

GÜL RUHSAR YILMAZ: 0000-0001-5878-4301

ALPER TAHMAZ: 0000-0001-8674-2141

NEFİSE ÖZTOPRAK ÇUVALCI: 0000-0001-6382-2229

İLKNUR ESEN YILDIZ: 0000-0003-2987-0483

MEHMET ÇABALAK: 0000-0003-1148-2247

ŞEYMA TOPAL: 0000-0003-2603-4746

ÖZGÜR GÜNAL: 0000-0002-7744-4123

BİRCAN KAYAASLAN: 0000-0001-5225-8319

FATMA ESER: 0000-0002-0282-6346

TUBA DAMAR ÇAKIRCA: 0000-0002-1706-230X

DENİZ ÖLMEZ: 0000-0001-6180-254X

ALİYE BAŞTUĞ: 0000-0002-8831-4877

FİRDEVS AKSOY: 0000-0002-1926-1273

HANİFE NUR KARAKOÇ PARLAYAN: 0000-0002-4620-6755

BEYZA SÜLLÜ: 0009-0006-5670-3057

DAMLA VERENDAĞ: 0000-0003-1700-7578

HATUN ÖZTÜRK ÇERİK: 0000-0003-0277-5443

MEHMET AŞAN: 0000-0002-3681-7923

AYHAN AKBULUT: 0000-0003-2560-3265

GÜLDEN ESER KARLIDAĞ: 0000-0002-0754-1702

BEHİCE KURTARAN: 0000-0002-2081-4664

HÜSNÜ PULLUKÇU: 0000-0001-6363-2708

TURHAN TOGAN: 0000-0002-5490-8888

DOI

10.55730/1300-0144.6186

Keywords

Health personnel, human immunodeficiency virus, post-exposure prophylaxis

First Page

518

Last Page

530

Publisher

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK)

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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