PrEP & PEP

Security guards who come in contact with bodily fluids run the risk of exposure to disease. As stressed repeatedly in other articles, officers should not engage physically with the vagrants or transients without having at least the minimum P.P.E. on, which is a set of Nitrile gloves.

If an officer is exposed to blood, urine, saliva or any other bodily fluid through they eyes, nose, mouth or open wound, the risk of infection from exposure goes up dramatically.

For HIV exposure, there are options:

• PrEP: Short for “pre-exposure prophylaxis,” PrEP is an HIV prevention strategy in which HIV-negative people take an oral pill once a day before coming into contact with HIV to reduce their risk of HIV infection. PrEP must be taken for at least 7 days to reach optimal levels of protection against HIV.
• PEP: Short for “post-exposure prophylaxis,” PEP is an HIV prevention strategy in which HIV-negative people take anti-HIV medications after coming into contact with HIV to reduce their risk of HIV infection. PEP must be started within 72 hours after HIV exposure.

If while in performance of your duties you become exposed in a manner that could mean infection, notify your supervisor immediately. You will need to go in for a PEP treatment and will need to test for HIV infection in 3 months after the exposure date.