Jill Clark

TL;DR: The objectives of these recommendations are to increase HIV screening of patients, including pregnant women, in health-care settings; foster earlier detection of HIV infection; identify and counsel persons with unrecognized HIV infection and link them to clinical and prevention services; and further reduce perinatal transmission of HIV in the United States.

TL;DR: Recommendations for the initiation of treatment of HIV infection in pregnant women are the same as those for nonpregnant women, however, the special circumstances of pregnancy raise additional issues that are related to potential drug toxicity to the mother and fetus, which affect the choice of antiretroviral drugs.

TL;DR: Compared with previously published estimates, lifetime treatment costs for children perinatally infected with HIV have remained relatively stable, however, as years of survival increase for this population, lifetime costs also are likely to increase.

TL;DR: Three strategies needed to maintain gains and reach the goal of eliminating perinatal HIV are put forth: standardize medical interventions and policy changes that support perinatally transmitted HIV reduction; institute HIV screening in routine preconception care to identify HIV infection in women before pregnancy; and critically focus attention and resources on primary prevention of HIV infections in women.

TL;DR: These case studies emphasize the value of collaboration between agencies providing care and services to HIV-infected and high-risk women of childbearing age, and the importance of maximizing opportunities for HIV testing and treatment.