The finding that prophylaxis can be effective at blocking infection has altered the treatment for occupational exposures, such as needle exposures. Such exposures are now followed rapidly with anti-HIV drugs, and this practice has resulted in measurable transient virus infection similar to the NHP model. Similarly, the mother-to-fetus transmission, and its fetal prophylaxis with antivirals such as tenofovir and AZT, has been evaluated in controlled testing in macaques not possible in humans, and this knowledge has guided antiviral treatment in pregnant mothers with HIV.
The effectiveness of prophylaxis in preventing infection has transformed the approach to treating occupational exposures, such as needle injuries. Now, these exposures are followed by anti-HIV medications, leading to transient viral infections similar to those observed in non-human primates (NHPs). Additionally, the transmission from mother to fetus and its prevention with antivirals like tenofovir and AZT have been evaluated in macaques due to ethical constraints, which has guided antiviral treatment for pregnant women with HIV.