The use of antiretrovirals to prevent HIV infection is a
promising new strategy to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
Several lines of evidence suggest that pre-exposure
prophylaxis with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (tenofovir)
can reduce HIV transmission in people who inject drugs.
Findings from studies in macaque monkeys show that
tenofovir can prevent or delay mucosal and parenteral
infection with HIV-like viruses.5–7 Antiretrovirals are also
used to reduce mother-to-child transmission8
and the
risk that health-care workers will become infected after
occupational HIV exposure.9
Additionally, tenofovir is an
attractive candidate for use in injecting-drug users
because it does not alter the pharmacokinetics or
pharmacodynamics of methadone.10