German-Austrian recommendations for HIV-therapy in pregnancy and in HIV-exposed newborn - update 2005.

In Germany during the last years about 200-250 HIV infected pregnant women delivered a baby each year, a number that is currently increasing. To determine the HIV-status early in pregnancy voluntary HIV-testing of all pregnant women is recommended in Germany and Austria as part of prenatal care. In those cases, where HIV infection was known during pregnancy, since 1995 the rate of vertical transmission of HIV was reduced to 1-2%.