Management of infants exposed to HIV in pregnancy - National Neonatal Network Guideline: Blood Borne Virus during pregnancy

This guideline has been created as an evidence-based, unified document to streamline local neonatal guidance from across Scotland and the BHIVA (British HIV association) guidelines for the management of HIV in pregnancy and the postpartum period 20251. It aims to ensure equality and safety for the management of all infants in Scotland exposed to HIV in pregnancy.

There is good uptake of antenatal screening. With subsequent appropriate antiretroviral treatment of mothers during pregnancy and labour, careful delivery planning, post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for babies, the risk of vertical transmission of HIV from mother to baby in the UK is declining.

The management of infants exposed to HIV in pregnancy should be undertaken by an experienced, multidisciplinary group of professionals which may include paediatric infectious disease consultants and specialist nurses, obstetricians and specialist midwives, adult infectious disease or GUM consultants, neonatologists, infant feeding advisors and virologists. Regular review meetings to discuss and document the neonatal plans for these infants is recommended.