Antibiotic Prophylaxis Can Save Lives

Most positive children are on one antibiotic or another to prophylax against deadly diseases that used to be the greatest causes of death for HIV-infected individuals.

The Pediatric Guidelines strongly recommend the following:

1. Bactrim (trimethoprim-sulfame-thoxazole) to prevent PCP in all infected infants; for children ages 1-5 years who have a CD4 (T-cell) count under 500 and in older children who have a CD4 count less than 200.

2. Clarythromycin or azithromycin to prevent MAC for all children older than 6 with a CD4 count of less than 50, 2-6 years with less than 75, 1-2 years with less than 500 and infants with less than 750.

3. Other antibiotics are recommended as T-cell counts decrease, or if the child tests positive for other pathogens like TB. A complete list of antibiotic guidelines for the prevention and treatment of opportunistic infections as well as vaccination guidelines have been issued by the US Department of Health and are available by calling Margit at the Pediatric Working Group at 212-255-0520.