Human immunodeficiency virus infection in pregnant women and their newborns.

Along with increasing knowledge of factors that put infants at risk for mother-to-infant HIV transmission (e.g., maternal-viral load, HIV-disease state, prematurity, and prolonged membrane rupture), there are new approaches to reducing the likelihood of such transmission (e.g., zidovudine treatment). Additional means of reducing transmission may become available in years to come. In this context, prenatal voluntary identification of HIV-infected women is vital. Finally, appropriate use of early diagnostic tests in HIV-exposed infants will allow effective use of prophylactic and therapeutic means.