Premasticated Food for Infants Potential HIV Risk

This study reviews three cases in the United States where perinatal transmission of HIV has been ruled out, but infants have been diagnosed with "late" HIV transmission. In each, case a parent or caregiver routinely fed premasticated food to the child and epidemiologically, it has been shown to be the route of infection for 2 of the 3 cases. This potential new route of transmission of HIV can have implications globally and providers are encouraged to discourage this feeding practice until more can be understood about the risks and rates of transmission.

Citation:

Gaur AH, Dominquez KL, Kalish ML, Rivera-Hernandez D, Donohoe M, Brooks JT & Mitchell CD. Practice of feeding premasticated food to infants: A potential risk factor for HIV transmission. Pediatrics. 2009 Aug; 124(2); 658-66.

Original Article (subscription may be required)

Abstract