(BETA) Opportunistic Infections: New Guidelines for Pediatric PCP Prevention


(BETA) Opportunistic Infections: New Guidelines for Pediatric PCP Prevention

Bulletin of Experimental Treatments for AIDS, No. 26; September 1995
Harvey Bartnof, MD

The CDC has published new guidelines for preventing Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) for infants and toddlers. The rates of PCP among HIV positive infants under 1 year of age had not decreased with the 1991 PCP prevention guidelines for children, which were based on CD4 cell counts. This is different from the marked reduction in PCP rates among adults when preventive medication is taken after the CD4 cell count drops below 200 cells/mm3. The National Pediatric and Family HIV Resource Center convened a conference with the CDC to address the issue.

The new guidelines recommend: - to identify promptly children born to HIV-infected women and to begin regular immunologic and diagnostic monitoring of such children; - to begin PCP preventive therapy at 4-6 weeks of age for all children who have been exposed to HIV, associated with pregnancy or delivery; - to continue preventive treatment through 12 months of age for HIV-infected children; and - to make decisions regarding PCP prophylaxis for HIV-infected children 12 months of age or older, based on CD4 cell counts and whether PCP previously has occurred.

The new guidelines mean that PCP prophylaxis would begin around the time that AZT is stopped, where AZT was used to prevent HIV transmission only.

Centers for Disease Control. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 44(RR-4): 1-11. April 28, 1995. Cancer Treatments


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Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeard in 1995. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.

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This information is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.
©1995. AEGIS.