[a couple of links to news coverage, followed by the abstract for the actual
research study]

 

 

HIV in breast milk killed by flash-heating, new study finds

 

http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2007/05/21/hiv_in_breast_milk_killed_by_
flashheating_new_study_finds.html

 

A simple method of flash-heating breast milk infected with HIV successfully
inactivated the free-floating virus, according to a new study led by
researchers at the Berkeley and Davis campuses of the University of
California.

 

Notably, the technique - heating a glass jar of expressed breast milk in a
pan of water over a flame or single burner - can be easily applied in the
homes of mothers in resource-poor communities. 

 

(see link above for full item)

 

 

 

 

Researchers: HIV-Infected Moms Can Safety Breastfeed Their Babies

Local Researchers Discover Method

 

http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=health
<http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=health&id=5325957> &id=5325957

 

May 21 - KGO - Researchers at the University of California have discovered a
method to make breast milk from HIV-infected mothers safe for their babies
to drink. It could have wide-ranging implications for underdeveloped
countries.

 

 

 

THE RESEARCH:

 

Flash-Heat Inactivation of HIV-1 in Human Milk: A Potential Method to Reduce
Postnatal Transmission in Developing Countries.

JAIDS Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes

 

http://www.jaids.com/pt/re/jaids/abstract.00126334-900000000-99727.htm;jsess
ionid=GTZGF3qHkp89PHmyLBV06Nyc4JpzhhZTvVmdgkh3JHkHt2qk2n25!959335381!-949856
145!8091!-1

or

http://tinyurl.com/2b4dqa

 

 

JAIDS Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes. POST ACCEPTANCE, 17
May 2007

Israel-Ballard, Kiersten MPH *; Donovan, Richard PHD +; Chantry, Caroline MD
++; Coutsoudis, Anna PHD [S]; Sheppard, Haynes PHD +; Sibeko, Lindiwe MSC
[//]; Abrams, Barbara DRPH * 

 

Abstract: 

Background: Up to 40% of all mother-to-child transmission of HIV occurs by
means of breast-feeding; yet, in developing countries, infant formula may
not be a safe option. The World Health Organization recommends heat-treated
breast milk as an infant-feeding alternative. We investigated the ability of
a simple method, flash-heat, to inactivate HIV in breast milk from
HIV-positive mothers. 

 

Methods: Ninety-eight breast milk samples, collected from 84 HIV-positive
mothers in a periurban settlement in South Africa, were aliquoted to
unheated control and flash-heating. Reverse transcriptase (RT) assays (lower
detection limit of 400 HIV copies/mL) were performed to differentiate active
versus inactivated cell-free HIV in unheated and flash-heated samples.

 

Results: We found detectable HIV in breast milk samples from 31% (26 of 84)
of mothers. After adjusting for covariates, multivariate logistic regression
showed a statistically significant negative association between detectable
virus in breast milk and maternal CD4+T-lymphocyte count (P = 0.045) and
volume of breast milk expressed (P = 0.01) and a positive association with
use of multivitamins (P = 0.03). All flash-heated samples showed
undetectable levels of cell-free HIV-1 as detected by the RT assay (P<
0.00001). 

 

Conclusions: Flash-heat can inactivate HIV in naturally infected breast milk
from HIV-positive women. Field studies are urgently needed to determine the
feasibility of in-home flash-heating breast milk to improve infant health
while reducing postnatal transmission of HIV in developing countries. 

(C) 2007 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc. 

 


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