HIV Reservoir Landscape in Breast Milk From Long-Term Virally Suppressed Individuals

Abstract

Background: Immune cells present in breast milk are transferred to children through chestfeeding or breastfeeding. The survival and functions of these cells in the infant's gastrointestinal tract remain unclear. In the context of cisgender women living with HIV (WLWH), cell-associated HIV has been identified in breast milk even in virally suppressed WLWH (1). This could be one of the factors associated with the very low, but still present, risk for transmission through chestfeeding or breastfeeding in the context of viral suppression with antiretroviral treatment (ART). For many years, the recommendation was to avoid chestfeeding or breastfeeding in high-income settings.