Could Antiretrovirals Prevent Infection?

Because the antiretroviral drugs Retrovir, Epivir, and Emtriva quickly reach high levels in women's genital tract, the drugs may be useful to prevent HIV infections for them, according to a study presented at the 13th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections. High genital-tract levels of the drugs could be useful through postexposure prophylaxis regimens in preventing HIV from taking hold as well as keeping the virus from entering the body through preexposure treatment, the researchers say. A high level of virologic control in the genital tract also could lower the chances of infecting male sex partners and transmitting HIV to infants during childbirth.