Rifampicin reduces the concentration of ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitors [61], risking loss of HIV virological control. Rifampicin and saquinavir/ritonavir coadministration can cause severe hepatocellular toxicity and is contraindicated [62]. There is insufficient evidence on the safety of rifabutin in pregnancy to recommend its use, but if reduced dose rifabutin (150 mg on alternate days or three times per week) is used with lopinavir/ritonavir, therapeutic drug monitoring should be used to monitor lopinavir levels in the pregnant woman. Rifampicin and efavirenz can be coadministered,

but because of the concern of teratogenic effects of efavirenz in pregnancy it should be used with caution. There is increasing experience to suggest it can be considered after the first trimester. selleckchem For those already on a regimen containing efavirenz, this should be continued, with dose alterations according to maternal weight and therapeutic drug monitoring. Another option would be to use a triple nucleoside regimen for pregnant selleck women requiring anti-tuberculous therapy. Alternatively AZT

monotherapy and planned caesarean section could be considered for those with an HIV VL <10 000 copies/mL and able to discontinue antiretroviral therapy following delivery. Advice on drug interactions with antiretroviral therapy can be found in Section 11.6. There is limited experience in the management of multi-drug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) during pregnancy and management should be in conjunction with a specialist in this field. Although there is limited experience with many second-line drugs in pregnancy, untreated TB, especially in those infected with HIV, will lead to increased maternal mortality and

poor obstetric outcomes [53–56] and the risk of congenital and neonatal TB. There are a number of reports of the successful management of MDR-TB in pregnancy [63–65]. Pregnant individuals infected with MDR-TB should be transferred to a unit with expertise in this field. Clarithromycin has been associated with birth defects in mice and Adenosine rats, but two reviews failed to show an increase in major malformations in 265 women exposed in the first trimester [66,67]. There is no evidence for teratogenicity of azithromycin in animal studies. One hundred and twenty-three women were reported to the teratogenicity service in Toronto, Canada, having taken azithromycin during pregnancy (88 in the first trimester). No increase in malformations was seen when compared to those exposed to a non-teratogenic antibiotic [67]. There are no trial data examining the optimum time to start ART in the context of treating opportunistic infections in pregnancy. However, there is a consensus that in most situations ART should be started as soon as possible. There have not been any publications describing immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) relating to opportunistic infections in pregnancy for patients on HAART, but this must at least be a theoretical concern.