Last week, the CDC released a press release to welcome the announcement by the World Health Organization (WHO) of new Early Release HIV Treatment and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) guidelines. This press release stated that these guidelines will significantly increase the number of people eligible for life-saving anti-retroviral treatment (ART) and expand access to a powerful tool for preventing HIV among those at greatest risk.

The new guidelines from WHO align with two key U.S. recommendations. In 2012, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued treatment guidelines recommending ART for all patients diagnosed with HIV infection. In 2015, this was upgraded to an A1 recommendation, based on the highest quality evidence (a randomized controlled clinical trial). In 2014, CDC issued first-ever clinical guidance recommending physicians consider advising the use of PrEP for gay and bisexual men, heterosexuals, and injection drug users at substantial risk for HIV infection. Read more about the guidelines and the full CDC press release here.