Current guidelines for the management of UK Infants born to HIV-1 infected mothers

Transmission of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1) from mother to child has been associated with maternal plasma viral load and CD4 lymphocyte count, prematurity, the mode of infant delivery, length of rupture of membranes and breast feeding. Without intervention, the transmission of HIV-1 occurs in a quarter to a third of infants born to infected mothers. During the last decade, mother-to-child transmission of HIV-1 has been reduced to less than 1%, through formula feeding, prelabour Caesarean section (PLCS) and antiretroviral therapy. With such an impressive reduction in the transmission of HIV-1, attention is turning towards the minimisation of possible drug side effects both in mothers and their infants. HIV-1-infected women are increasingly choosing to conceive on combination antiretroviral therapy, hence, infants are exposed to increasing numbers, combinations and classes of drugs, often from conception. Current guidelines on the prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV-1 are discussed.