Abstract
The number of HIV-infected pregnant women in the United States is increasing. In epicenters such as New Jersey and New York, two to five per cent of all pregnant women may be seropositive. The intrapartum management of the infected women will depend on the stage of her disease. For the infant who has escaped intrauterine infection, delivery poses the risk of exposure to infected maternal blood and secretions. While the risk of HIV infection for health care workers is low, labor and delivery is a time when exposure to blood and body fluids can be anticipated. Precautions to prevent parenteral exposure and exposure of mucous membranes and nonintact skin should routinely be used for all patients.