Effects of preterm birth, maternal ART and breastfeeding on 24-month infant HIV-free survival in a randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: IMPAACT 1077BF/FF (PROMISE) compared the safety/efficacy of two HIV antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimens to zidovudine (ZDV) alone during pregnancy for HIV prevention. PROMISE found an increased risk of preterm delivery (<37 weeks) with antepartum triple ART (TDF/FTC/LPV+r or ZDV/3TC/LPV+r) compared with ZDV alone. We assessed the impact of preterm birth, breastfeeding, and antepartum ART regimen on 24-month infant survival. METHODS: We compared HIV-free and overall survival at 24 months for liveborn infants by gestational age, time-varying breastfeeding status, and antepartum ART arm at 14 sites in Africa and India. Kaplan-Meier survival probabilities and Cox proportional hazards ratios were estimated. RESULTS: Three thousand four hundred and eighty-two live-born infants [568 (16.3%) preterm and 2914 (83.7%) term] were included. Preterm birth was significantly associated with lower HIV-free survival [0.85; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.82-0.88] and lower overall survival (0.89; 95% CI 0.86-0.91) versus term birth (0.96; 95% CI 0.95-0.96). Very preterm birth (<34 weeks) was associated with low HIV-free survival (0.65; 95% CI 0.54-0.73) and low overall survival (0.66; 95% CI 0.56-0.74). Risk of HIV infection or death at 24 months was higher with TDF-ART than ZDV-ART (adjusted hazard ratio 2.37; 95% CI 1.21-4.64). Breastfeeding initiated near birth decreased risk of infection or death at 24 months (adjusted hazard ratio 0.05; 95% CI 0.03-0.08) compared with not breastfeeding. CONCLUSION: Preterm birth and antepartum TDF-ART were associated with lower 24-month HIV-free survival compared with term birth and ZDV-ART. Any breastfeeding strongly promoted HIV-free survival, especially if initiated close to birth. Reducing preterm birth and promoting infant feeding with breastmilk among HIV/antiretroviral drug-exposed infants remain global health priorities.

Outbreak of norovirus gastroenteritis infection, Thailand.

Norovirus is a leading cause of gastrointestinal illness worldwide. We investigated an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness in Pattaya, Thailand, among participants of a course. We asked participants and family members to complete a questionnaire asking about symptoms, meals eaten, and foods consumed during the course. We collected stool samples from persons reporting illness and analyzed specimens for several viruses and enteropathogenic bacteria. We defined a case as a person having one or more episodes of diarrhea, with onset between 30 August and 1 September 2010, in a participant or family member who attended the course. Of 56 people who attended, 95% completed the questionnaire: nine met the case definition (attack rate, 17%). Common symptoms included abdominal cramps, nausea, fatigue, headache, and vomiting. Food items with elevated risk ratios included: crispy fish maw, dried squid, and cashew nut salad [risk ratio (RR) 5.1; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.7-37]; assorted salad bar with dressing (RR 3.0; 95% CI 0.9-11); and seafood kebab (RR 5.8; 95% CI 0.8-43). Among ill persons, four (44%) provided stool samples and two (50%) were positive for norovirus. Our data suggest a foodborne outbreak of norovirus. Increased use of norovirus diagnostics as well as measures to prevent transmission may help identify additional outbreaks and improve control measures to limit the spread of outbreaks.