Babies resistant to mothers’ ARVs

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Babies resistant to mothers' ARVs

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Only 11 out of the 18 drugs used to treat adult HIV infection have indications,

clear dosage or package inserts for use in children according to the WHO.

Photo/FILE

By GATONYE GATHURA

gathura@...

Posted Sunday, April 3 2011 at 20:12

Babies as young as six months have developed resistance to HIV drugs after

breast feeding, according to a recent survey.

The study carried out by the Kenya Medical Research Institute in Kisumu assessed

the effectiveness of various HIV drug regimens in preventing mother-to-child

transmission during pregnancy and thereafter.

According to the research findings, putting a HIV positive woman on

anti-retrovirals (ARVs) significantly reduced the risk of infecting her child

during delivery or shortly after.

However, 24 infants in the study were infected with HIV either during delivery

or within the first six months of breastfeeding.

Further analysis, said the study carried out in collaboration with the US Centre

for Disease Control and Prevention, Kisumu, showed that the infants developed

resistance to particular ARVs which were being used by the mothers.

The report given last week concluded that ingestion of anti-retroviral drugs

through breast milk may have contributed to the emergence of HIV drug resistance

in the infants.

The new findings will be significant for doctors when deciding on which

antiretrovirals to prescribe to HIV infants.

" Programmes providing maternal anti-retroviral therapy during breastfeeding and

those caring for infants exposed to anti-retrovirals through breast milk will

need to be cognisant of this issue and consider monitoring these infants more

closely and tailoring their treatment accordingly, " the researchers said.

This could further complicate the treatment of HIV positive children since only

a handful of World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended ARVs are available in

formulations that are affordable, feasible or acceptable for use in infants and

young children.

Only 11 out of the 18 drugs used to treat adult HIV infection have indications,

clear dosage or package inserts for use in children according to the WHO.

http://www.nation.co.ke/News/Babies+resistant+to+mothers+ARVs+/-/1056/1138210/-/\

thkh8dz/-/index.html

[Guest guest]

Babies resistant to mothers' ARVs

Share Bookmark Print Email Rating

Only 11 out of the 18 drugs used to treat adult HIV infection have indications,

clear dosage or package inserts for use in children according to the WHO.

Photo/FILE

By GATONYE GATHURA

gathura@...

Posted Sunday, April 3 2011 at 20:12

Babies as young as six months have developed resistance to HIV drugs after

breast feeding, according to a recent survey.

The study carried out by the Kenya Medical Research Institute in Kisumu assessed

the effectiveness of various HIV drug regimens in preventing mother-to-child

transmission during pregnancy and thereafter.

According to the research findings, putting a HIV positive woman on

anti-retrovirals (ARVs) significantly reduced the risk of infecting her child

during delivery or shortly after.

However, 24 infants in the study were infected with HIV either during delivery

or within the first six months of breastfeeding.

Further analysis, said the study carried out in collaboration with the US Centre

for Disease Control and Prevention, Kisumu, showed that the infants developed

resistance to particular ARVs which were being used by the mothers.

The report given last week concluded that ingestion of anti-retroviral drugs

through breast milk may have contributed to the emergence of HIV drug resistance

in the infants.

The new findings will be significant for doctors when deciding on which

antiretrovirals to prescribe to HIV infants.

" Programmes providing maternal anti-retroviral therapy during breastfeeding and

those caring for infants exposed to anti-retrovirals through breast milk will

need to be cognisant of this issue and consider monitoring these infants more

closely and tailoring their treatment accordingly, " the researchers said.

This could further complicate the treatment of HIV positive children since only

a handful of World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended ARVs are available in

formulations that are affordable, feasible or acceptable for use in infants and

young children.

Only 11 out of the 18 drugs used to treat adult HIV infection have indications,

clear dosage or package inserts for use in children according to the WHO.

http://www.nation.co.ke/News/Babies+resistant+to+mothers+ARVs+/-/1056/1138210/-/\

thkh8dz/-/index.html