Provision of drugs for post-exposure prophylaxis of HIV for medical students on overseas electives

Objectives: To assess the need for, and the most practical way to provide, HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for medical students travelling to area s where this is not readily available. Methods: Follow-up questionnaire for all 140 students from Dundee Universit y returning from their medical elective in 2000, 22 of whom took triple the rapy for PEP with them on elective. Results: 103/140 students (74%) returned questionnaires. 76/103 (74%) were involved in exposure-prone procedures and 38/103 (37%) reported a significa nt exposure to potentially infective fluids. Six of this group considered P EP but none reported using it. The greatest perceived risk on elective rema ined road accidents. 87/103 respondents thought a 24-h helpline for health issues on electives would be useful. Conclusions: A high number of students report significant exposure to poten tially infected fluids and this needs to be urgently addressed. There was a lmost unanimous endorsement of the idea of providing PEP and when it is mad e easily available prior to travel, students are willing to take it to area s where it is not available. In response to the survey, the investigators a re looking at how to increase the current limited supply of PEP (Students m ay have to pay part of the cost) and the best way to provide a helpline, as it is felt that this could have a broad impact on student safety on electi ves, not just for issues involving PEP. (C) 2001 The British Infection Soci ety.