6.10 Other infections

Treatment and prophylaxis (prevention) for most opportunistic infections (OIs) during pregnancy is broadly similar to that for non-pregnant adults.

PCP, MAI, TB

Prophylaxis and treatment of PCP, MAI and tuberculosis (TB) infections are recommended if necessary.

CMV, candida, invasive fungal infections

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

Herpes

Many people with HIV also have genital herpes. HIV positive women are more likely to experience an outbreak of herpes during labour than negative women. Prophylaxis treatment for herpes with acyclovir is often recommended to reduce this risk.

Herpes is very easily transmitted from mother to child. Herpes sores contain high levels of HIV even if HIV viral load is undetectable .

The herpes virus can also be released from the sores during labour. This will put the baby at risk from neonatal herpes and at increased risk of HIV.