Factors influencing time from exposure to post-exposure prophylaxis of HIV infection in patients consulted in 2001-2004 in out-patient clinic of Hospital for Infectious Diseases in Warsaw]

The following analysis was performed to identify factors influencing time from exposure to post-exposure prophylaxis initiation. Data were collected from standard forms filled in by physicians during consultation visits in 2001-2004. There were 475 patients consulted after exposure to potentially infectious material in the analyzed time (212 men and 263 women). Of them 210 were healthcare workers (HCW) and 265 represented other occupation (non-HCWs). There was no statistical difference in age (p = 0.41), gender (p = 0.69) and occupational group (p = 0.77) in four consecutive years, yet there was a significance in the type of exposure and time from exposure to starting antiretroviral prophylaxis (TEX). The number of exposures during physical assault has significantly increased. To identify the factors influencing TEX and because there was no difference in baseline characteristics further the groups were combined together and analyzed as one. Occupational group had significant influence on TEX (p = 0.04), with shorter TEX in HCWs (median 6 hours and 5 min.) then in non-HCWs (median 7 hours and 45 min.). Although the difference in TEX between different exposure groups did not reach statistical significance, TEX was shorter in the group of mucosal exposure. There was no HIV infection diagnosed after exposure.