CROI: Pre-Chewed Food Passes HIV to Children

When HIV-positive mothers or caregivers pre-chew an infant's food, they may transmit the virus to the child, investigators reported at CROI 2008, the 15th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections last week. 

From a MedPage Today Article (Including news video featuring Dr. Kenneth Dominguez):

The cases came to light when local doctors were unable to find other modes of HIV transmission.  Together with local authorities in Memphis and Miami, CDC researchers conducted an intensive investigation before concluding that food, pre-chewed by a caregiver, had been the way the three children contracted the virus.

In two cases, the mother was HIV-positive and transmitted the virus to her child, while in the third case -- with an HIV-negative mother -- the virus was passed from an infected great aunt who had been caring for the infant..

Gaur AH, et al "Practice of offering a child pre-masticated (pre-chewed) food: an unrecognized possible risk factor for HIV transmission" CROI 2008; Abstract 613b. Abstract: http://www.retroconference.org/2008/Abstracts/31723.htm

Link to Aidsmap a worldwide AIDS news and information source

Thank you to William Mitchell College of Law student Emily Brooks-Lipor for preparing this post.