WA Country Health Service (WACHS) has provided an update for GPs on the use of Doxycycline Post-exposure Prophylaxis (Doxy-PEP) for the prevention of sexually transmissible infections (STIs).
Doxy-PEP is an emerging STI prevention strategy for eligible patients at increased risk of bacterial STIs. It involves taking 200mg of doxycycline within 72 hours after sexual exposure and has been shown to significantly reduce syphilis and chlamydia.
Doxy-PEP should be considered primarily for syphilis prevention in gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) and transgender women at increased risk of STIs, following a comprehensive sexual health risk assessment. Prescribing should include discussion of benefits, risks and antimicrobial resistance, alongside ongoing routine STI and HIV screening and access to HIV prevention such as PrEP where indicated.
For more information, refer to the WACHS information sheet for GPs and waiting room poster. The ASHM Doxy-PEP Hub also includes a decision-making tool and further prescribing resources for GPs. Australian clinical guidelines are currently in development.