Revisions to WHO guidelines for antiretroviral treatment of pregnant women and prevention of HIV infection in infants
2009 update
Programmatic experience and new scientific evidence have accumulated since release of the 2006 WHO guidelines for antiretroviral treatment of adults and adolescents and those for treating HIV-infected pregnant women and preventing HIV infection in infants. WHO is reviewing these developments with the aim of revising and updating recommendations on these subjects in a coordinated fashion.
Links to the 2006 guidelines:
Adults and adolescents |
Pregnant women and infants
A summary of the process and timelines being followed for the coordinated revision of these guidelines is provided below.
See also:
Revisions to WHO guidelines for antiretroviral treatment of adults and adolescents
WHO MTCT guideline revision process
Populations being considered
- HIV+ pregnant women
- HIV-exposed infants
Areas for review
- Eligibility criteria for initiating ARV therapy in pregnant women (as part of the adult revisions)
- Drug regimens for pregnant women in need of ART for their own health
- Drug regimens and duration of prophylactic ARV for pregnant women to prevent MTCT (for those not eligible for treatment)
- Drug regimens and duration of prophylactic ARV for mother and infant to prevent post-natal transmission related to breastfeeding
Relevant outcomes
- Maternal mortality at 1 and 2 years
- Severe adverse events
- Adherence, tolerability and retention
- Response to ART / response to subsequent ART
- HIV drug resistance
- HIV transmission at 6 weeks and 18 months
- HIV-free survival at 6 weeks and 18 months
- Drug safety and toxicity
- Adverse events
Ideal recommendations
- One simple safe and easy-to-use ART regimen for pregnant women with HIV
- One simple, safe and easy-to-use ARV regimen for prophylaxis in pregnant women with HIV
- Practical, easy-to-follow advice on what to do for late presentation to pregnancy services
- One simple, safe prophylactic regimen for all HIV-exposed infants
- One simple prophylactic ARV regimen for infants who are breastfeeding (if their mothers are not on ART)