Antiretrovirals: post-exposure prophylaxis: practice question

A Pharmacology question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Pharmacology · Antiretrovirals: post-exposure prophylaxis

Sample item

A health worker sustains a needlestick injury from an HIV-positive patient. What is the correct approach?

AWait for serology before treatmentBStart a three-drug regimen within 72 hours, ideally within hours, and continue for 28 daysCStart a single drug for 3 daysDStart a regimen for 6 months

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. Start a three-drug regimen within 72 hours, ideally within hours, and continue for 28 days

Post-exposure prophylaxis should be started as early as possible and within 72 hours, using a three-drug regimen such as tenofovir, lamivudine and dolutegravir, for 28 days. Follow-up HIV testing is done at intervals.

Option by option

A. Wait for serology before treatment
Delay until serology reduces the benefit.
B. Start a three-drug regimen within 72 hours, ideally within hours, and continue for 28 days (correct)
Correct. Three drugs within 72 hours for 28 days.
C. Start a single drug for 3 days
A single drug and a short course are inadequate.
D. Start a regimen for 6 months
The course is 28 days, not 6 months.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

Questions about this Pharmacology question

What is the answer to this Pharmacology question?

The best answer is B, Start a three-drug regimen within 72 hours, ideally within hours, and continue for 28 days. Post-exposure prophylaxis should be started as early as possible and within 72 hours, using a three-drug regimen such as tenofovir, lamivudine and dolutegravir, for 28 days.

Why is "Wait for serology before treatment" not the answer?

Delay until serology reduces the benefit.

Why is "Start a single drug for 3 days" not the answer?

A single drug and a short course are inadequate.

Why is "Start a regimen for 6 months" not the answer?

The course is 28 days, not 6 months.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Antiretrovirals: post-exposure prophylaxis in Pharmacology. Follow-up HIV testing is done at intervals.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Antiretrovirals: post-exposure prophylaxis?

Learn drugs as classes, then the exception in each class that an examiner would pick. Then use the flashcards and the other Pharmacology questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.