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New WHO guidelines on PMTCT and infant
feeding.
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| Subject: |
Antiviral agents
(Dosage and administration) Perinatal infection (Prevention) HIV infection (Prevention) Breast feeding (Safety and security measures) |
| Pub Date: | 05/01/2010 |
| Publication: | Name: Reproductive Health Matters Publisher: Reproductive Health Matters Audience: General Format: Magazine/Journal Subject: Family and marriage; Health; Women's issues/gender studies Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2010 Reproductive Health Matters ISSN: 0968-8080 |
| Issue: | Date: May, 2010 Source Volume: 18 Source Issue: 35 |
| Topic: | Event Code: 260 General services; 350 Product standards, safety, & recalls |
| Organization: | Organization: World Health Organization |
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| Accession Number: | 236247769 |
| Full Text: |
New guidelines on the use of antiretrovirals for prevention of
mother to child transmission (PMTCT) recommend lifelong antiretroviral
therapy (ART) for all pregnant women with serious or advanced disease or
with a CD4 count at or below 3 50 cells/ml regardless of symptoms. This
could prevent 75% of all MTCT and is consistent with the new adult ART
recommendations. In women who do not need ART for their own health, ART
should start earlier in the pregnancy, at 14 weeks or as soon as
possible thereafter, and should continue throughout the breastfeeding
period. This change reflects clinical trials showing the efficacy of
antiretrovirals in preventing transmission of HIV to the infant while
breastfeeding. Where mothers receive ART for their own health, infants
should receive prophylaxis with nevirapine for six weeks after birth if
the mother is breastfeeding, and prophylaxis with either nevirapine or
zidovudine for six weeks if the mother is not breastfeeding.
Breastfeeding and prophylaxis should continue for one year if the infant
is either HIV-negative or of unknown status. Where mother and infant are
both HIV-positive, breastfeeding should be encouraged for at least the
first two years of life, in line with recommendations for the general
population. (1,2) (1.) World Health Organization. Rapid advice: use of antiretroviral drugs for treating pregnant women and preventing HIV infection in infants. 30 November 2009. (2.) World Health Organization. Rapid advice: revised WHO principles and recommendations on infant feeding in the context of HIV. 30 November 2009. |
| Gale Copyright: | Copyright 2010 Gale, Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. |