Health care provider had needle stick injury from a known HIV infected patient. He should certainly start post-exposure prophylaxis within how exposure?

Appeared in: Haryana CHO - 2022

Explanation

Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for HIV is an emergency medical response to prevent infection after a potential exposure.
For maximum effectiveness, PEP should be initiated as soon as possible, ideally within the first 2 hours.
The absolute latest time to begin PEP is 72 hours after the exposure.
Studies show that after 72 hours, the virus begins to replicate in regional lymph nodes, and PEP is unlikely to be effective.
Therefore, 72 hours is the correct maximum window for starting the medication.

Option B: This is well beyond the recommended 72-hour maximum window for initiating HIV PEP.
Option C: This is significantly past the 72-hour deadline, at which point PEP is considered ineffective.
Option D: This is far beyond the critical 72-hour period for starting PEP. The virus would have already established infection.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Use the key finding related to Timeframe for initiating Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) for HIV after occupational exposure to guide bedside assessment, documentation, and the next nursing action.
All healthcare facilities must have a clear protocol for managing occupational exposures like needle stick injuries, and all staff must be trained on it.
Immediate reporting is crucial. Any delay in reporting the exposure can lead to missing the critical 72-hour window for PEP.
Patient counseling is vital. The healthcare worker must be counseled on the importance of adhering to the full 28-day PEP regimen and follow-up testing.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question based on established public health and infection control guidelines.
First, identify the core of the question: What is the maximum time limit to start post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for HIV?
Recall the standard medical protocol for occupational HIV exposure.
The key fact to remember is the 72-hour (3-day) window. PEP is most effective when started within hours, but it is not recommended after 72 hours.
Compare this critical timeframe with the given options.
Select the option that matches the established guideline, which is 72 hours.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Timeframe for initiating Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) for HIV after occupational exposure.
Stem keywords: needle stick injury, HIV infected patient, post-exposure prophylaxis, PEP, health care provider
Lead-in keywords: within how exposure
Negative lead-in flag: false

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Practise the full Haryana CHO - 2022

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.