How to prevent PCP

May 2008     View PDF     En español

Special concerns for pregnant women and children

Pregnant women
Women who are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant should follow the standard guidelines for PCP prevention and use preventive therapy if they are at risk. However, there are some concerns that most PCP preventive therapies may harm the developing child during the first three months of pregnancy. Ask your doctor about the best treatment for you.

Children
Early diagnosis and treatment of HIV in pregnant women can help prevent HIV and PCP in their children. Newborn children of mothers with HIV should start Bactrim/Septra (B/S) at age 4–6 weeks. (Babies don’t usually get PCP until they are about 8 weeks old.) If HIV tests later show that the baby does not have HIV, then the B/S can be stopped. If the baby does have HIV, B/S should be continued until he or she reaches 1 year of age. After one year, the decision to stay on PCP preventive therapy is based on the child’s CD4 count.