This article is part of the supplement: Fifth Dominique Dormont International Conference. Host-Pathogen Interactions in Chronic Infections

Lecture presentation

Universal antiretroviral therapy for pregnant and breastfeeding HIV-infected women: towards the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV-1 in resource-limited settings?

Renaud Becquet

• Correspondence: Renaud Becquet

Author Affiliations

INSERM, Unité 897, Centre de Recherche "Epidémiologie et Biostatistique", Bordeaux, France

Institut de Santé Publique Epidémiologie Développement (ISPED), Université Victor Segalen Bordeaux 2, Bordeaux, France

On behalf of the ANRS 12200 Study Group

Retrovirology 2009, 6(Suppl 1):L7 doi:10.1186/1742-4690-6-S1-L7

Published: 22 July 2009

First paragraph (this article has no abstract)

Several unmet scientific needs that account for the partial failure of MTCT prevention efforts in resource-constrained settings, particularly in Africa. Single-dose and short-course antiretroviral (ARV) regimens are only partially effective and have failed to achieve wide coverage despite their apparent simplicity. More potent ARV combinations are restricted to pregnant women who need treatment for themselves but are also infrequently used. Furthermore, postnatal transmission via breastfeeding is a serious additional threat. Modifications of infant feeding practices aim to reduce breast-milk HIV transmission: replacement feeding is neither affordable nor safe for the majority of African women, and early breastfeeding cessation (e.g. prior to 6 months of life) requires substantial care and nutritional counselling to be practised safely.