A study was conducted in July 1997 among clinicians reporting AIDS cases to examine their experience and attitudes toward the management of recent HIV exposures. The study concluded that there was a need for guidelines that included a decision-making tool. Recommendations were then published in April 1998. One year after the release of these recommendations (in July 1999), a new study was conducted to assess the impact of the recommendations on practitioners’ experience and attitudes, and to evaluate any serious side effects associated with post-exposure prophylaxis. This latest study shows that the dissemination of the recommendations facilitated the establishment of a network of referral professionals for post-exposure prophylaxis. The number of serious side effects reported over the 12-month study period suggests that the benefit-risk ratio of this treatment in healthy individuals should be given greater consideration. Furthermore, treatment regimens better suited to preventing infection rather than treating it should be proposed in the recommendations.