Nursing Care of Baby whose Mother is HIV Positive

Step

Action

1

Use standard precautions.

2

Babies greater than 32 weeks gestation if condition stable, after birth bath using chlorhexidine surgical scrub 4%:

• Have bath water and towels on hand.
• Nurse wears long sleeve gown and gloves.

• Nurse wets hands, pours some chlorhexidine surgical scrub 4% into hands, lathers up solution. Then using hands cover all of baby's skin-hair (avoiding eyes and ears) with the chlorhexidine surgical scrub 4%.
• Place baby in bath water and rinse off the chlorhexidine.
• Dry baby.

3

After baby bathed Vitamin K given IM in right leg (Parent consent needed).

4

Baby is not given breast milk or breastfed (as there is increased risk of HIV transmission to baby).

5

Sample of baby’s urine sent to laboratory to test for cytomegalovirus (CMV).

6

No BCG vaccination or other live vaccines should be given until baby’s status is clear.