Now is the time for routine voluntary HIV testing of pregnant women

Article Abstract:

All pregnant women should be offered testing for HIV now that zidovudine treatment has been shown to reduce HIV transmission to the fetus. A large multicenter trial of zidovudine treatment of HIV-positive pregnant women found that HIV transmission to the newborn was reduced from 22% to 7.2%. Results apply only to women between 14 and 34 weeks gestation who have not had prior zidovudine treatment and who do not have depressed CD4 counts. Zidovudine preventative therapy is only possible in developed countries such as the U.S. because it requires ready availability and affordability of the drug. It also does not completely prevent transmission to the fetus. Nonetheless, offering universal HIV testing where zidovudine treatment is feasible has the potential for reducing the number of HIV-infected infants born to infected mothers.

Editorial, HIV testing, HIV tests

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Pediatric research: National Issues of Health support in the 'steady-state' decade, 1983-1993

Article Abstract:

The proportion of National Institutes of Health funding going to pediatric research increased between 1983 and 1993, but large departments and children's hospitals have benefited to the detriment of smaller centers and clinical pediatric research. Research funding overall remained stable after accounting for inflation while the dollars allotted to pediatric research nearly doubled and the number of grants increased from 390 to 608. However, 15 of the top research-oriented medical schools received half the grant awards while 72 other medical schools received 0, 1, or 2 grants.

Finance, Pediatric research

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Hepatitis B Maternal Screening, Infant Vaccination, and Infant Prophylaxis Practices in North Carolina

Article Abstract:

Some doctors are not following the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) when it comes to hepatitis B screening. ACIP recommends testing all pregnant women for hepatitis B and vaccinating all children against hepatitis B. In a survey of 28 birthing facilities in North Carolina, 92% of pregnant women were tested for hepatitis B and 86% of infants received hepatitis B vaccine. Of nine infants whose mothers tested positive for hepatitis B, only four received vaccine and hepatitis B immune globulin to prevent hepatitis B.

Diagnosis, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis B vaccine, Hepatitis B vaccines

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