Breast milk pasteurisation in developed countries to reduce HIV transmission. Do the benefits outweigh the risks?
BACKGROUND
Transmission of HIV through breastfeeding is well documented. The World Health Organisation advise HIV-infected women in developed countries to use alternatives to breastfeeding together with highly active antiretroviral therapy and optimal management of delivery to prevent transmission of HIV to their infant.


METHODS
We present the case of an HIV-infected woman electing to exclusively breastfeed for six months and applying milk pasteurisation techniques without transmission to her infant. Two paired samples of her breast milk were tested for HIV RNA prior to and after pasteurisation. The first pair of specimens reported no change in HIV RNA copy number, the second pair of specimens reported an increase in copy number.


CONCLUSIONS
This technique, the evidence for HIV inactivation and the effects pasteurisation has on nutritional and immunological components of breast milk are discussed.


CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, we believe there is currently insufficient data to recommend this technique either as a safe alternative to formula feeding in resource-rich countries or as a method for providing intact immunological components of breast milk to the infant.
Giles
M
M
Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Royal Women's Hospital, Carlton VIC, Australia. michelle.giles@burnet.edu.au
Mijch
A
A
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000635:transmission*; D000328:Adult; D001903:Bottle Feeding; D001942:Breast Feeding; D005260:Female; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000821:virology*; D013242:Sterilization