Safety of Cotrimoxazole in HIV- and HAART-exposed Infants

Each year, more than 2 million children are born to HIV-infected women. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that these infants receive cotrimoxazole (CTX) prophylaxis starting at 4-6 weeks of age until the period of infant HIV transmission risk is over, and the infant is known to be HIV-uninfected. There is also increasing interest in studying CTX prophylaxis given to all infants of HIV-infected women at the time of initiation of replacement feeding, regardless of infant HIV infection status, to mitigate the high risk of infant morbidity and mortality associated with formula feeding in the developing world. However, infant in utero exposure to maternal antiretroviral drugs can lead to hematologic toxicities in infants. It is critical to know whether infant CTX prophylaxis exacerbates the hematologic toxicity associated with perinatal ARV exposure. This question, with broad public health implications, has never been studied.

We will study the hematologic toxicity associated with CTX prophylaxis given to infants exposed to maternal HAART in Botswana. We will use existing data from a large cohort that did not receive CTX, and enroll a smaller cohort that does receive CTX according to Botswana national guidelines.

Both maternal and infant criteria need to be met:

Maternal Inclusion Criteria:

• documented HIV infection
• taking 3-drug highly active antiretroviral therapy at any point during pregnancy (note: can include 2 NRTI+NNRTI, 2NRTI+PI, or 3 NRTI)
• 21 years of age or older, and able and willing to sign informed consent
• Proof of Botswana Citizenship

Maternal Exclusion Criteria:

• involuntary incarceration

Infant Inclusion Criteria:

• younger than 42 days of age
• able to be brought to regular visits at study clinic until at least 6 months postpartum

Infant Exclusion Criteria:

• known pre-existing birth anomalies resulting in a high probability that the baby will not survive to 6 months
• known hypersensitivity to cotrimoxazole