HIV: post-exposure prophylaxis: practice question

A Dermatology 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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Dermatology · HIV: post-exposure prophylaxis

Sample item

A nurse suffers a needle-stick injury from an HIV positive patient. What is the recommended post-exposure prophylaxis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. A three-drug antiretroviral regimen for 28 days, started as soon as possible and within 72 hours

Antiretroviral PEP is a three-drug regimen, such as tenofovir, lamivudine and dolutegravir, started ideally within 2 hours and no later than 72 hours for 28 days. Baseline and follow-up testing are needed.

Option by option

  • A. A single dose of nevirapine only

    Single drug therapy is inadequate.

  • B. A three-drug antiretroviral regimen for 28 days, started as soon as possible and within 72 hours (correct)

    Correct. Prompt three-drug therapy for 28 days is standard.

  • C. Zidovudine alone for 6 months

    Monotherapy for 6 months is not recommended.

  • D. No treatment is needed

    Needle-stick from an infected source carries risk and needs prophylaxis.

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.

More Dermatology questions

Questions about this Dermatology question

What is the answer to this Dermatology question?

The best answer is B, A three-drug antiretroviral regimen for 28 days, started as soon as possible and within 72 hours. Antiretroviral PEP is a three-drug regimen, such as tenofovir, lamivudine and dolutegravir, started ideally within 2 hours and no later than 72 hours for 28 days.

Why is "A single dose of nevirapine only" not the answer?

Single drug therapy is inadequate.

Why is "Zidovudine alone for 6 months" not the answer?

Monotherapy for 6 months is not recommended.

Why is "No treatment is needed" not the answer?

Needle-stick from an infected source carries risk and needs prophylaxis.

What concept does this question test?

It tests HIV: post-exposure prophylaxis in Dermatology. Baseline and follow-up testing are needed.

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 HIV: post-exposure prophylaxis?

Learn each condition by its primary lesion, site and signature sign. Then use the flashcards and the other Dermatology 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.