Routinely available cotrimoxazole prophylaxis and occurrence of respiratory and diarrhoeal morbidity in infants born to HIV-infected mothers in South Africa.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the influence of cotrimoxazole (CTM) prophylaxis on incidence of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) and diarrhoea. DESIGN: A prospective observational cohort study. Morbidity and feeding data on infants born to HIV-infected mothers were collected routinely at clinic visits at 1 week, 6 weeks and 3 months, and 3-monthly thereafter, with blood drawn for determining HIV status. SETTING: Two hospitals in Durban, South Africa. In one hospital (King Edward VIII Hospital), infants born to HIV infected mothers received CTM prophylaxis and in the other (McCord Hospital) infants did not receive CTM prophylaxis. SUBJECTS: Infants born to HIV-infected mothers. Outcome measures. Incidence of LRTI and diarrhoea. RESULTS: In multivariate analysis controlling for breast-feeding status, number of clinic visits and HIV infection status, HIV infected infants with access to CTM prophylaxis had a significantly lower incidence of LRTI (82%) than those without access to prophylaxis. However in HIV-uninfected infants, this was not the case. CTM prophylaxis was associated with a non-significant increased risk for diarrhea in both infected (odds ratio (OR) 1.58, p = 0.45) and uninfected infants (OR 1.52, p = 0.10). CONCLUSIONS: This observational study confirms current thinking that CTM prophylaxis is protective against LRTIs in HIV-infected children. However, because of a possible association between CTM prophylaxis and an increased risk of diarrhoea, HIV status of infants should be determined as early as possible in order to prevent unnecessary exposure of uninfected infants to CTM prophylaxis, while further studies to quantify both beneficial and adverse effects of CTM prophylaxis are undertaken.

When does mother to child transmission of hepatitis C virus occur?

OBJECTIVE: To investigate when hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection from mother to child occurs, and evaluate possible associated factors. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. PATIENTS: Fifty four HCV infected children tested within three days of birth and their mothers. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: HCV RNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results. RESULTS: Seventeen of the children (31%, 95% confidence interval 19% to 46%) were positive in the first 3 days of life and could be assumed to have acquired infection in utero. Testing PCR positive was not associated with sex (53% v 49% boys; p=0.77) or mode of delivery (29% elective caesarean section in both groups; p=0.98). Children with evidence of intrauterine infection were significantly more likely to be of lower birth weight and infected with genotype 1 (58% v 12%, p=0.01). Although a higher proportion of infants born to HCV/HIV co-infected women were PCR positive in the first 3 days of life, this difference did not reach statistical significance; excluding infants born to co-infected women did not affect the results. Thirty seven of the children (68%) were negative in the first 3 days of life, 27 of whom were positive when tested again at 3 months, and nine were first PCR positive after 3 months (one child had no further tests). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that at least one third and up to a half of infected children acquired infection in utero. Although postpartum transmission cannot be excluded, these data suggest that it is rare. The role of HCV genotypes in the timing and mechanism of infection should be explored further.

Morbidity in children born to women infected with human immunodeficiency virus in South Africa: does mode of feeding matter?

AIM: To examine infant morbidity risks associated with refraining from breastfeeding where it is used in an attempt to prevent mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). METHODS: The population consisted of infants born to HIV-infected women in South Africa who were participating in a vitamin A intervention trial to prevent MTCT of HIV. Women chose to breastfeed or formula feed their infants according to UNAIDS guidelines. Actual feeding practices and morbidity were recorded at clinic follow-up visits at I wk, 6 wk, 3 mo and every 3 mo thereafter until 15 mo of age or cessation of breastfeeding. The infant's HIV status was assessed according to a predetermined algorithm. RESULTS: HIV-infected infants who were never breastfed had a poorer outcome than those who were breastfed; 9 (60%) of those who were never breastfed had 3 or more morbidity episodes compared with 15 (32%) of breastfed children [odds ratio (OR) 4.05, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.91-20.63, p = 0.05]. During the first 2 mo of life, never-breastfed infants (regardless of HIV status) were nearly twice as likely to have had an illness episode than breastfed infants (OR 1.91, 95% CI 1. 17-3.13, p = 0.006). CONCLUSION: The significant extra morbidity experienced in the first few months by all never-breastfed infants and at all times by HIV-infected infants who are not breastfed needs to be considered in all decisions by mothers, health workers and policy makers so as not to offset any gains achieved by decreasing HIV transmission through avoiding breastfeeding.

HIV-2 does not protect against HIV-1 infection in a rural community in Guinea-Bissau.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the putative protective effect of HIV-2 infection against subsequent HIV-1 infection. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of data from two cross-sectional surveys in the same community. METHODS: Two surveys between 1989 and 1998 in a rural area in northwestern Guinea-Bissau provided data from residents aged 15-59 years. HIV testing was done in the first survey. In the second survey, tests were made for both HIV and syphilis, and data on sociodemographic factors and sexual behaviour, including commercial sex work, were gathered. Qualitative polymerase chain reaction amplification of HIV-1 and HIV-2 viral DNA was performed on serologically dually reactive samples. RESULTS: Of the 2276 eligible adult villagers initially tested, 60% (1360) provided a second sample. Of 110 HIV-2-infected subjects, 17 became additionally infected with HIV-1 [incidence rate (IR), 26.3/1000 person-years observation]. Of the 1250 HIV-seronegative subjects, 24 became infected with HIV-1 (IR, 2.8/1000 person-years observation). The incidence rate ratio (IRR), comparing the incidence rate in HIV-2-infected people with the rate in HIV-seronegative subjects, was > 1 in all three "risk groups": men, female commercial sex workers, and other women. The overall estimate of the IRR, adjusted for age group and risk group, was 3.24 (confidence interval, 1.5-7.1). CONCLUSIONS: There was no protective effect of HIV-2 in this population. HIV-2 cannot be regarded as a vaccine, but, instead, may be a risk factor for HIV-1 infection.

Persistence rate and progression of vertically acquired hepatitis C infection. European Paediatric Hepatitis C Virus Infection.

Data were collected from 104 infected children who were followed up from birth for a mean of 49 (range, 6-153) months in 22 European centers, to outline the natural history of perinatal hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Fifty-four children were persistently HCV RNA positive, 44 were occasionally positive, and 6 never had detectable viremia. At least 90% of the children had evidence of ongoing infection at the latest analysis. Eighteen children became HCV RNA negative at their last assessments, but 40% of these had high alanine aminotransferase (ALT) concentrations. Infection was asymptomatic in all but 2 children, who developed hepatomegaly. Mean ALT concentrations decreased substantially after the first 2 years of life; 14 children had persistently normal ALT values. Signs of minimal to moderate inflammation were noted in all 20 patients who underwent liver biopsy. Perinatal HCV infection is usually asymptomatic in the first years of life, but the virus persists in most children, even in the absence of elevated ALT activity.

European paediatric hepatitis C virus network. Antenatal hepatitis C virus screening and management of infected women and their children: policies in Europe.

UNLABELLED: A postal survey of 31 European centres was conducted to document current practices regarding screening and management of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected pregnant women and their children. Antenatal HCV prevalence was low. Universal antenatal screening programmes were in place in ten centres, selective screening occurred in ten other centres, two did not specify the type of policy, and there was no screening programme in nine centres. Numbers of HCV-infected children were low. Breastfeeding was recommended for infants of infected mothers in ten centres, discouraged in ten centres, in three centres women were merely informed of the risks, and there were no guidelines in eight centres. Polymerase chain reaction was available in all centres. In 17 centres children born to HCV-infected women were seen every 3 months for at least the 1st year. CONCLUSION: The optimum antenatal hepatitis C virus screening approach and the appropriateness of breastfeeding recommendations are unclear and this survey highlights the lack of uniformity in current practice.

Antenatal screening for hepatitis B infection and syphilis in the UK.

OBJECTIVES: To assess antenatal hepatitis B and syphilis screening policies in the UK. DESIGN: Postal questionnaire survey. SETTING: One hundred and ninety-two obstetric units and 116 Public Health directorates. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Antenatal screening policy and line of responsibility for ensuring vaccine uptake in hepatitis B virus exposed children. RESULTS: Replies were received from 140 (73%) obstetric centres and 99 (85%) Public Health directors. Forty per cent of obstetric centres now offer hepatitis B virus tests to all pregnant women, and nearly one-quarter (24.1%) of all births in the UK in 1996 occurred in centres with a universal testing policy. The prevalence of chronic hepatitis B virus ranged from 0.3 to 17.5 per 1000 deliveries. Universal antenatal screening for serological evidence of syphilis was the norm, but five obstetric centres respondents and three Public Health directors were considering its discontinuation. In the nine London centres, syphilis prevalence was 2.06 per 1000 pregnant women, compared with 0.24 per 1000 elsewhere. Responses from Public Health directors indicated the nonspecific nature of the antenatal care contract. Responsibility for hepatitis B virus vaccination of the newly born infant rests with the hospital paediatrician, with transfer of responsibility to the community usually occurring through a discharge letter. Only two areas had a monitoring system to ensure full hepatitis B virus vaccination coverage of exposed infants. CONCLUSIONS: If antenatal screening policies are to be equitable there is a need for a clear national policy, and systems need to be established to monitor local policy and practice.