Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Practice Exam

Which condition is a contraindication to breastfeeding?

1. Maternal hepatitis B

2. Maternal HIV

3. Maternal HSV

4. Maternal chickenpox

The correct answer is: Maternal HIV

Breastfeeding is a key component of infant care, offering numerous health benefits. However, certain maternal conditions may pose risks that contraindicate breastfeeding to protect the infant's health. In the case of maternal HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), the virus can be transmitted through breast milk to the infant, which can lead to HIV infection in the breastfeeding child. The risk of transmission is significant enough that health guidelines typically recommend against breastfeeding for mothers who are HIV-positive, especially in resource-limited settings where safe alternatives to breast milk are unavailable. In contrast, conditions like maternal hepatitis B and maternal herpes simplex virus (HSV) do not contraindicate breastfeeding if the mother is appropriately managed. Infants can receive vaccinations and immunoglobulins for hepatitis B, allowing breastfeeding to continue safely. Similarly, HSV does not pose a risk of transmission through breast milk unless active lesions are present in a site that would come into contact with the infant, in which case appropriate measures can be taken to reduce risk while continuing to breastfeed. Maternal chickenpox, when the mother is not actively infectious, generally does not preclude breastfeeding since the varicella virus is not found in significant quantities in breast milk. Therefore, the presence of maternal HIV is a clear contraindication to