Zidovudine Given to Infants Soon After Birth Reduces Perinatal HIV Transmission

Abstract

This study determined the extent to which infants born to HIV-infected women not receiving the recommended regimen of prophylactic zidovudine could benefit from an abbreviated regimen. HIV test results of 939 infants aged 180 days or younger born to infected mothers in New York State were examined. In addition a separate analysis of data on 454 infants was also conducted to ensure reliability of the results. Overall records show that infants born to HIV-infected women given zidovudine treatment immediately after birth have reduced risk of contracting the infection even if their mothers did not receive recommended prophylactic zidovudine therapy during pregnancy and labor. It is noted that 27% of infants who were not exposed to the treatment tested positive for HIV. In addition 10% of those whose mothers initiated treatment during labor and 9% of the infants who were given treatment during the first 48 hours of life tested positive for HIV. For those infants who did not receive treatment until they were 3 days of age or older 18% were HIV infected. Similar results were reported in the multiple logistic regression analyses. In conclusion it is suggested that women who do not receive zidovudine during pregnancy should receive antiretroviral prophylaxis during delivery and their infants should begin receiving treatment soon after birth.