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Introduction In resource-constrained settings, infant feeding decisions among women with HIV (WHIV) must balance the risk of infant HIV acquisition from breastfeeding with increased mortality associated with formula feeding. WHO guidelines recommend countries principally promote a single feeding method for WHIV, either breastfeeding or formula feeding. In 2016, Botswana revised its policy of formula feeding for infants born to WHIV, instead promoting exclusive breastfeeding during the first 6 months of life. Methods We sought to understand factors influencing infant feeding choices among WHIV by administering a questionnaire to pregnant and postpartum WHIV (2013-2015) participating in a clinical trial in Botswana (the Mpepu Study). Logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with infant feeding choices. Results Of 810 surveyed participants, 24.0% chose breastfeeding and 76.0% chose formula feeding. Women were more likely to choose formula feeding if advised by a health worker to formula feed (aOR 1.90; 95% CI 1.02-3.57) or if they harboured doubts about the potency of antiretroviral treatment (ART) to prevent infant HIV acquisition (aOR 9.06; 95% CI 4.78-17.17). Women who reported lack of confidence in preparing infant formula safely (aOR 0.09; 95% CI 0.04-0.19) or low concerns about infant HIV acquisition (aOR 0.35; 95% CI 0.22-0.55) were significantly less likely to formula feed. Discussion Perceptions about ART effectiveness, social circumstances and health worker recommendations were key influencers of infant feeding choices among WHIV. Health system factors and maternal education interventions represent ideal targets for any programmatic actions aiming to shape informed decision-making towards HIV-free survival of infants., Author(s): Aamirah Mussa [sup.1] , Henock B. Taddese [sup.2] , Ekaterina Maslova [sup.2] , Gbolahan Ajibola [sup.1] , Joseph Makhema [sup.1] , Roger L. Shapiro [sup.1] [sup.3] , Shahin Lockman [...]

Introduction: Most African countries perform infant HIV testing at 6 weeks or later. The addition of targeted testing at birth may improve retention in care, treatment outcomes and survival for HIV-infected infants. Methods: HIV-exposed infants were screened as part of the Early Infant Treatment (EIT) study in Botswana. Screened infants were [greater than or equal to]35 weeks gestational age and [greater than or equal to]2000 g at birth. Risk factors for mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) were assessed by maternal obstetric card or verbally. Risk factors included 400 copies/mL, poor maternal ART adherence, lack of maternal zidovudine (ZDV) in labour, or lack of infant post-exposure prophylaxis. Infants underwent dried blood spot testing by Roche Cobas Ampliprep/Cobas Taqman HIV-1 qualitative PCR. Results: From April2015 to April2016, 2303 HIV-exposed infants were tested for HIV in the EIT study. Of these, 369 (16%) were identified as high risk for HIV infection by information available at birth, and 12 (0.5% overall, 3.25% of high risk) were identified as HIV positive at birth. All 12 positive infants were identified as high risk at the time of screening, and only 2 risk factors were required to identify all positive infants: either Conclusions: In utero MTCT occurred only among infants identified as high risk at delivery, using information available from the mother or obstetric record. Birth testing that targets high-risk infants based on maternal ART receipt is likely to identify the majority of in utero HIV transmissions, and allows early ART initiation for these infants. Keywords: HIV; mother-to-child transmission; children; paediatrics; vertical transmission; viral suppression, 1 | INTRODUCTION The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends HIV testing for all HIV-exposed infants at 4 to 6 weeks of age [1], based on studies demonstrating the benefits of [...]

: Introduction: Antiretrovirals such as dolutegravir (DTG) and tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) have been associated with excessive weight gain. The objective of this study was to understand the potential impact of ART‐associated weight gain on pregnancy outcomes among women living with HIV. Methods: Using data from the Tsepamo birth outcomes surveillance study in Botswana, we evaluated the relationship between maternal weight (and weight gain) and severe birth outcomes (very preterm delivery 4000 g) and maternal hypertension. We estimated the relative risk of each outcome by baseline weight (first weight in pregnancy Results: Of 22,828 women on ART at conception with singleton deliveries between August 2014 and April 2020, 16,300 (71.4%) had a weight measured 90 kg) was associated with increased risk of macrosomia (aRR 3.24, 95% CI 2.36, 4.44) and maternal hypertension (aRR 1.79, 95% CI 1.62, 1.97). Baseline weight was not associated with stillbirth or early neonatal death. For all outcomes, second trimester weight gain showed weaker associations than did baseline weight. Duration of pre‐pregnancy ART (years) was associated with higher baseline weight for DTG but not for EFV, and the risk of maternal hypertension by baseline weight category was higher for DTG than EFV for all strata. Conclusions: ART regimens associated with weight gain may reduce the number of women at risk for certain severe adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with low weight but increase the number at risk of macrosomia and maternal hypertension. Further research could determine whether weight‐based ART treatment strategies improve maternal and child health., INTRODUCTION Multiple studies have reported that tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) and dolutegravir (DTG) are associated with clinically significant weight gain, with risk of treatment‐emergent obesity (body mass index, or BMI, >30) [...]

: Introduction: Most African countries perform infant HIV testing at 6 weeks or later. The addition of targeted testing at birth may improve retention in care, treatment outcomes and survival for HIV?infected infants. Methods: HIV?exposed infants were screened as part of the Early Infant Treatment (EIT) study in Botswana. Screened infants were ?35 weeks gestational age and ?2000 g at birth. Risk factors for mother?to?child transmission (MTCT) were assessed by maternal obstetric card or verbally. Risk factors included 400 copies/mL, poor maternal ART adherence, lack of maternal zidovudine (ZDV) in labour, or lack of infant post?exposure prophylaxis. Infants underwent dried blood spot testing by Roche Cobas Ampliprep/Cobas Taqman HIV?1 qualitative PCR. Results: From April 2015 to April 2016, 2303 HIV?exposed infants were tested for HIV in the EIT study. Of these, 369 (16%) were identified as high risk for HIV infection by information available at birth, and 12 (0.5% overall, 3.25% of high risk) were identified as HIV positive at birth. All 12 positive infants were identified as high risk at the time of screening, and only 2 risk factors were required to identify all positive infants: either Conclusions: In utero MTCT occurred only among infants identified as high risk at delivery, using information available from the mother or obstetric record. Birth testing that targets high?risk infants based on maternal ART receipt is likely to identify the majority of in utero HIV transmissions, and allows early ART initiation for these infants., Introduction The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends HIV testing for all HIV?exposed infants at 4 to 6 weeks of age, based on studies demonstrating the benefits of early infant HIV [...]

: Introduction: Despite declining risk of vertical HIV transmission, prophylactic cotrimoxazole (CTX) remains widely used to reduce morbidity and mortality in the event of HIV infection among exposed infants, with an inherent risk of conferring commensal antimicrobial resistance. Using data from a randomized, placebo‐controlled trial of infant CTX prophylaxis, we sought to quantify emergence of antibiotic resistance. Methods: HIV‐exposed uninfected infants enrolled in the Botswana Mpepu study were randomized to prophylactic CTX or placebo between 14 and 34 days of life and continued through 15 months. Stool samples were collected from a subset of participating infants at randomization, three, and six months, and stored at −70°C prior to culture. Specimens that grew Escherichia coli (E. coli) or Klebsiella species (Klebsiella spp.) underwent antibiotic susceptibility testing by Kirby Bauer method using CTX (CTX 1.25/23.75 μg) and Amoxicillin (10 μg) in Mueller Hinton agar. Fisher's exact testing was used to compare prevalence of resistance by randomization arm (CTX/placebo). Results and Discussion: A total of 381 stool samples from 220 infants were cultured: 118 at randomization, 151 at three months, and 112 at six‐months. E. coli was isolated from 206 specimens and Klebsiella spp. from 138 specimens. Resistance to CTX was common in both E. coli and Klebsiella spp. at the randomization visit (52.2% and 37.7% respectively) and did not differ by study arm. E. Coli isolates from CTX recipients at three and six months had 94.9% and 84.2% CTX resistance, as compared with 51.4% and 57.5% CTX resistance in isolates from placebo recipients (p=0.01). Klebsiella spp. isolates from CTX recipients had 79.0% and 68.8% CTX resistance at three and six months, as compared with 19.1% and 14.3% in isolates from placebo recipients (p Conclusions: HIV‐exposed infants randomized to CTX prophylaxis had increased CTX‐resistant commensal gastrointestinal bacteria compared with placebo recipients. Additional research is needed to determine the longer‐term clinical, microbiologic, and public health consequences of antimicrobial resistance selected by infant CTX prophylaxis., Introduction The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends cotrimoxazole (CTX) prophylaxis for HIV‐exposed infants at risk of postnatal HIV transmission, continuing until six weeks after breastfeeding cessation (with confirmation of negative [...]

A prospective observational study was conducted to assess the virologic responses of women and infants to nevirapine-based antiretroviral treatment after previous exposure to a single dose of nevirapine or placebo in the setting of a short course of zidovudine. Results revealed that women who received a single dose of nevirapine to prevent perinatal transmission of HIV-1 had higher rates of virologic failure with subsequent nevirapine-based antiretroviral therapy than did women without previous exposure to nevirapine.

The efficacy and safety of 2 infant feeding strategies for the prevention of postnatal mother-to-child HIV transmission is compared. It is observed that the formula feeding infants had a higher risk of early mortality and breast feeding infants had a higher risk of HIV transmission in sub-Saharan Africa.

A multistate outbreak of Escherichia coli O157:H7 infections occurred in the United States in June and July 1997. Two concurrent outbreaks were investigated through independent case-control studies in Michigan and [...]

The US Botulism Surveillance System could be a model for many other nations. Botulism is a favorite biological weapon of some terrorists because small amounts can be lethal. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) carries out intensive surveillance for botulism and provides diagnostic services to hospitals. The CDC also manages the country's antitoxin supply, which is kept at CDC stations located in various airports. The CDC also has an agreement with the Pan American Health Organization to provide antitoxin to most countries in the Western Hemisphere.

Background: Abacavir (ABC) may be associated with a small, increased risk of myocardial infarction in HIV‐infected adults, possibly related to cytokine‐mediated inflammation. Methods: To evaluate the induction of inflammatory cytokine transcription by ABC, we used samples from women randomized to receive zidovudine/lamivudine/ABC (Trizivir) or lopinavir/ritonavir and zidovudine/lamividine (Kaletra/Combivir) from the third trimester through six‐months postpartum for the prevention of mother‐to‐child transmission (PMTCT). Women were matched by CD4 count and baseline HIV RNA. All women attained viral suppression ( Results: Four cytokines showed a difference in expression between the treatment arms, all in a proinflammatory direction for the ABC arm: CD40LG 1.82‐fold, (p=.027); IL‐8 3.16‐fold (p=.020); LTA 2.82‐fold, (p=.008); and CCL5 −1.67‐fold, (p=.035). At 12‐months postpartum, 6‐months after antiretroviral discontinuation, cytokine expression was similar by treatment arm. Conclusions: We conclude that ABC may upregulate proinflammatory cytokines at the transcriptional level in this population., Introduction Abacavir (ABC) may be associated with a small, increased risk of myocardial infarction (MI) in HIV‐infected adults, possibly related to cytokine‐mediated inflammation; however, no consistent outcome has been found [...]

Background: Abacavir (ABC) may be associated with a small, increased risk of myocardial infarction in HIV-infected adults, possibly related to cytokine-mediated inflammation. Methods: To evaluate the induction of inflammatory cytokine transcription by ABC, we used samples from women randomized to receive zidovudine/lamivudine/ABC (Trizivir) or lopinavir/ritonavir and zidovudine/lamividine (Kaletra/Combivir) ffrom the third trimester through six-months postpartum for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT). Women were matched by CD4 count and baseline HIV RNA. All women attained viral suppression ( Results: Four cytokines showed a difference in expression between the treatment arms, all in a proinflammatory direction for the ABC arm: CD40LG 1.82-fold, (p = .027); IL-8 3.16-fold (p = .020); LTA 2.82-fold, (p = .008); and CCL5-1.67-fold, (p = .035). At 12-months postpartum, 6-months after antiretroviral discontinuation, cytokine expression was similar by treatment arm. Conclusions: We conclude that ABC may upregulate proinflammatory cytokines at the transcriptional level in this population. Keywords: HIV; abacavir; cytokine; transcription; antiretroviral; inflammation; AIDS., Introduction Abacavir (ABC) may be associated with a small, increased risk of myocardial infarction (MI) in HIV-infected adults, possibly related to cytokine-mediated inflammation; however, no consistent outcome has been found [...]

A botulism outbreak in Buenos Aires, Argentina in January, 1998 was linked to inadequately cooked meat. Nine bus drivers who ate an Argentine meat roll called matambre developed symptoms of botulism, including blurred vision, difficulty swallowing, muscle weakness and gastrointestinal symptoms. The matambre had been cooked at low temperatures, then wrapped in plastic and stored in refrigerators. All the bus drivers received botulism antitoxin and recovered.