What neonatal treatment should be prescribed?

The Department of Health and Human Services' Perinatal Guidelines discuss neonatal treatment. They recommend Zidovudine (AZT) for all newborns with HIV exposure and additional antiretroviral medications for infants considered at high-risk for perinatal transmission. The Illinois Perinatal HIV Hotline's Best Practices: Labor & Delivery Care for Pregnant People with HIV and Care of Infants with Perinatal Exposure to HIV contains detailed information about treatment regimens for both low and high-risk infants. Parents and caregivers who will be responsible for giving medications to the newborn should be educated on the appropriate dosing and administration of all neonatal antiretroviral medications prior to discharge from the hospital. Close follow-up is also necessary to reinforce dosing protocols and to monitor medical compliance.