What is the recommended HIV treatment for pregnant women during labor?

The recommended treatment for pregnant women during labor to prevent the transmission of HIV to the newborn is the administration of Zidovudine (AZT) intravenously. This approach is based on evidence that providing intravenous Zidovudine during labor can significantly reduce the risk of perinatal transmission of HIV from the mother to the infant, particularly in cases where the mother is not on antiretroviral therapy during pregnancy or has an unknown viral load.

Zidovudine acts by inhibiting the reverse transcriptase enzyme that HIV uses to replicate, thereby decreasing the viral load in the mother. Reducing the viral load is crucial for minimizing the risk of transmission during delivery, especially if the mother has a higher viral load at the time of labor.

Other treatments listed, like a three-drug combination or specific antiretrovirals such as Emtricitabine or Lopinavir/Ritonavir, may be part of the overall management of HIV in pregnancy, but for the specific context of labor and the immediate goal of preventing transmission during delivery, intravenous Zidovudine is the established recommendation. This approach allows for timely administration in a clinical setting, ensuring the safety of both the mother and the child during labor.