As health care providers we are doing an excellent job of educating women on perinatal HIV transmission and prevention. Men, on the other hand, have little understanding about the important role they play in protecting their unborn children. That needs to change.

The "TEST MIAMI" Initiative is an unprecedented collaborative effort to reduce the transmission of HIV by promoting routine HIV testing and improving the community's understanding of HIV.

Currently all states and territories report HIV and AIDS cases to their local county health departments. In Florida, the reporting of HIV and AIDS cases is mandatory according to state law.

The Perinatal Hotline is a valuable resource available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to assist clinicians with treatment protocol and recommendations for treating HIV positive pregnant women.

All HIV exposed newborns should receive the neonatal ZDV chemoprophylaxis regimen. Once discharged from the hospital, therapy must continue uninterrupted for 6 weeks. In some cases this presents a challenge. Baby RXpress addresses that challenge.

Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.) 64D.3.042 HIV/STD Testing Related to Pregnancy took effect in November 2006. The passage of this legislation has had a significant impact on how HIV/STD testing is conducted. The challenge we face is making providers aware of the changes and the importance of incorporating them into their practice.