title: Preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV: successes and challenges.
abstract: Mother-to-child transmission of HIV continues to be a major cause of infant morbidity and mortality in resource-poor settings. Intrapartum and postpartum nevirapine-based regimens have been introduced in many settings. New research has shown that better efficacy can be achieved with the addition of single-dose nevirapine to short course zidovudine regimens, and that selection of nevirapine-resistant virus can be reduced with a short postpartum combination antiretroviral cover. Women who need antiretroviral therapy for their own health should receive it in pregnancy, and access for pregnant women needs to be expanded urgently. The reduction of transmission through breastfeeding remains a challenge.
authors.affiliation: Perinatal HIV Research Unit, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McIntyre
mesh_terms: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D001942:Breast Feeding; D024882:Drug Resistance, Viral; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000821:virology; D019829:Nevirapine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018579:Patient Selection; D011204:Poverty Areas; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000188:drug therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D019829:Nevirapine