Question

If an HIV-positive mother has had low viral loads throughout her pregnancy and gives birth to a healthy infant with APGAR scores of 9, what's the next step in treating the infant?

A) Immediate administration of antiretroviral therapy (ART) to the infant.
B) No further action is required as the infant is not at risk of HIV infection.
C) Regular monitoring of the infant's CD4 count.
D) Administration of a hepatitis B vaccine.
E) Administering antibiotics for HIV prophylaxis.

Answer 1

The next step in treating an infant born to an HIV-positive mother with low viral loads is to immediately start the infant on antiretroviral therapy (ART) to further reduce the risk of HIV transmission.

Step-by-step explanation:

If an HIV-positive mother has had low viral loads throughout her pregnancy and gives birth to a healthy infant with APGAR scores of 9, the next step in treating the infant is Immediate administration of antiretroviral therapy (ART) to the infant. While the mother's low viral loads and the healthy birth outcome are positive signs, the risk of vertical transmission of HIV from mother to child still exists and can occur during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding.

Antiretroviral therapy for the infant can further reduce the risk of transmission. This approach of administering ART post-birth has significantly decreased the rates of mother-to-child transmission of HIV to about 1%. It is a standard protocol to administer a course of antiretroviral drugs to the newborn as a preventative measure, often within the first few hours to days after birth.

The goal of early ART in newborns is to prevent the establishment of HIV infection in the infant. This treatment is crucial because some amount of virus can hide in the body's immune cells and cannot be completely wiped out even with current treatments, but early intervention can greatly increase the life expectancy and quality of life for those infected with HIV.