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Children who contract HIV from mothers more likely to develop sepsis
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Infants born to mothers with HIV were more likely to develop sepsis, but only if they themselves had acquired HIV, according to study findings published online.
Researchers from the University of Witwatersrand in Soweto, South Africa, the CDC and elsewhere reported follow-up data from a study that examined maternal–fetal transmission of HIV, vaginal colonization with bacterial pathogens, and the relationship that both these factors played in sepsis development in the infants. The study was conducted between April 2004 and October 2007.
The researchers reported that women who were HIV-positive were more likely to be colonized with Escherichia coli but not group B Streptococcus or Klebsiella pneumoniae.
The findings also suggested that the babies who developed HIV were more likely to develop sepsis as well. “When compared with HIV-unexposed neonates, HIV-exposed, uninfected neonates had a lower risk of early-onset sepsis and a similar rate of late onset sepsis,” the study researchers wrote. However, they added, “The lower incidence of clinical sepsis rates in our study may have been influenced by more stringent criteria used in our study for diagnosing ‘clinical sepsis.’”
The researchers said their findings suggest that group B Streptococcus vaccines may be promising in reducing infant mortality in children with HIV and sepsis.
The research team noted some study limitations, specifically that CD4 counts were available for about one-third of the women, and HIV testing results were only available of 64% of the infants. — by Katie Kalvaitis.
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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