Consolidated Guidelines on the Use of Antiretroviral Drugs for Treating and Preventing Hiv Infection

The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the World Health Organization concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. [...] Use of ARV drugs for HIV prevention refers to the HIV prevention benefits of ARV drugs and includes ARV drugs for preventing the mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV, ARV drugs to reduce the transmission of HIV to serodiscordant sexual partners and ARV drugs to prevent the acquisition of HIV when a person is exposed (post- exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and PrEP). [...] Prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV refers to the use of ARV drugs to prevent the transmission of HIV from the mother during pregnancy and breastfeeding. [...] Continuum of HIV care refers to a comprehensive package of HIV testing, prevention, treatment and care services provided for people at risk of acquiring HIV and people living with HIV and their families. [...] Although countries are at different stages of ART coverage and implementation of the 2013 guidelines, there is a consistent trend towards initiating treatment earlier and xxii Consolidated guidelines on the use of antiretroviral drugs for treating and preventing HIV infection expanding the use of ARV drugs for HIV prevention to achieve greater impact.