Final answer:
The recommended treatment for a pregnant patient with AIDS to decrease transmission is antiretroviral therapy (ART), which includes the administration of a cocktail of at least three different antiretroviral drugs to maintain low viral loads and reduce the risk of AIDS and death.
Step-by-step explanation:
The recommended treatment for a pregnant patient with AIDS to decrease transmission is antiretroviral therapy (ART). These medications work by slowing the progression of the disease, maintaining the function of the immune system, and preventing the occurrence of opportunistic infections. Specifically, during pregnancy, administering antiretroviral medications to the mother and to the infant after birth can reduce the rates of mother-to-child transmission to about 1%. It is also recommended that infants be delivered by cesarean section and that bottle feeding be used in place of breastfeeding to eliminate the risk of HIV transmission through breast milk.
At present, the combination of drugs known as highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has transformed HIV from a fatal illness into a chronic condition that can be managed with continuous treatment. This type of therapy typically includes a cocktail of at least three different antiretroviral drugs, which aim to keep viral loads low, thus decreasing the risk of progression to AIDS and death. Importantly, HAART also reduces the transmission of HIV between individuals.