Efficacy of PEP on a HIV Epidemic Model with Latent Reservoir

Abstract

We propose a fractional order model to study the efficacy of the Post-exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) in HIV epidemics, in the presence of the latent reservoir. Latent reservoirs harbor infected cells that contain a transcriptionally silent but reactivatable provirus. The later constitutes a major difficulty to the eradication of HIV in infected patients. PEP is used as a way to prevent HIV infection after a recent possible exposure to HIV. It consists of the in-take of antiretroviral drugs (ART) for, usually, 28 days. In this study, we focus on the dosage and dosage intervals of ART during PEP and in role of the latent reservoir in HIV possible infected patients. We thus simulate the model for epidemiologically important parameters concerning the drugs and the fraction of latent infected cells. The results may add important information to clinical practice in the case of possible HIV infected patients.