Outcomes of a Postexposure Prophylaxis Program at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Ghana: A Retrospective Cohort Study

This study was undertaken to examine the characteristics of occupational exposure to HIV and the utilization of a risk assessment system (RAS)–based postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) among health care workers (HCWs) and health care students (HCSs) in the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH). During the study period (January 2005–December 2010), a total of 260 and 35 exposures were reported by HCWs and HCSs, respectively. Ward attendants reported the highest incidence rate of 6.46 of 100 person-years (P-Y). The incidence of high-risk exposures was 0.33 of 100 P-Y (n = 65); 60.0% occurred during a procedure of disposing of a needle and 24.6% during a cannula insertion. A total of 289 of the 295 individuals were administered PEP, of which 181 (62.6%) completed the 6-month follow-up testing schedule and none sero-converted. This shows that with a good RAS in place, it is possible to deploy an effective PEP program in a typical African teaching hospital like the KBTH in Accra, Ghana.

Source: Journal of the International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care (JIAPAC) - November 19, 2015 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Tetteh, R. A., Nartey, E. T., Lartey, M., Mantel-Teeuwisse, A. K., Leufkens, H. G. M., Nortey, P. A., Dodoo, A. N. O. Tags: Antiretroviral Therapy Source Type: research