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Opportunist infection prevention and treatment during pregnancy

Treatment and prophylaxis for most opportunist infections (OIs) during pregnancy is broadly similar to that for non-pregnant adults. Only a few drugs are not recommended.

Your healthcare provider should check for OIs as part of your ongoing HIV care, and as your immune system recovers using HAART.

You may need to be treated for other infections, especially if you are diagnosed with HIV during pregnancy.

Prophylaxis and treatment of pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PCP), mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) and tuberculosis (TB) infections are recommended if necessary during pregnancy.

Prophylaxis against CMV, candida infections, and invasive fungal infections is not routinely recommended because of drug toxicity. Treatment of very serious infections should not be avoided because of pregnancy.

September 2011

Decisions relating to your treatment should always be taken in consultation with your doctor. Information in this guide is intended to support those discussions.

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