Reduction of Maternal-Infant Transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 with Zidovudine Treatment

Maternal-infant transmission is the primary means by which young children become infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV) 1 , 2 . From 15 to 40 percent of infants born to infected mothers become infected in utero, during labor and delivery, or by breast-feeding 3 – 5 . Current evidence suggests that most maternal-infant HIV transmission occurs late in pregnancy or during labor and delivery 5 – 11 . Despite treatment, pediatric HIV infection remains a fatal disease whose prevention is of paramount importance. Animal models of retroviral infection demonstrate that zidovudine may prevent or alter the course of maternally transmitted HIV infection 12 – 16 . . . .