3rd Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections Washington, DC - January 28-February 1, 1996

Conf Retroviruses Opportunistic Infect 1996 Jan 28-Feb 1; 3rd:58 (abstract no. 27)

Biggar RJ, Miotti P, Taha T, Waters D, Mtimivalye L
NCI-USA, JHSPH, USA; SAIC, MD, USA; MOH, Malawi.

OBJECTIVE: To examine perinatal HIV-1 transmission risk factors and test the efficacy of a simple, easily used and economical birth canal wash intervention.

METHODS: 3,327 controls (usual delivery) were compared to 3,637 intervention-delivered women. The intervention used manual cleaning at least every 4 hours with chlorhexidine (0.25%) -saturated cotton.

RESULTS: No adverse reactions occurred. 2,094 (30.2%) enrollees were HIV+; infant f/u was 59%. Among 982 vaginal vertex singleton deliveries to HIV+ women, 269 (27.4%) infants were infected (PCR+ on dried blood spots collected greater than or equal to 4 wks age). Correlations with transmission were being first-born, low birth wt, and rupture of membranes greater than 4 hrs before delivery. Washing had no signif. impact on transmission (26.9% versus 27.9% in controls) except when membranes had ruptured greater than 4 hours (transmission reduced from 38.8% to 24.4%)

CONCLUSIONS: Our procedure should have lowered birth canal exposure to HIV but had little impact on perinatal HIV transmission.

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Copyright © 1996 - Foundation for Retrovirology and Human Health . Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the Foundation for Retrovirology and Human Health.