HIV/AIDS Glossary

Short-term treatment started as soon as possible after high-risk occupational exposure to an infectious agent, such as HIV, hepatitis B virus (HBV), or hepatitis C virus (HCV). An example of a high-risk occupational exposure is exposure to an infectious agent as the result of a needlestick injury in a health care setting. The purpose of occupational postexposure prophylaxis (oPEP) is to reduce the likelihood of infection.