An HIV-positive infant has died after an accidental Kaletra (lopinavir plus ritonavir) overdose, prompting Abbott Laboratories to issue a letter reminding healthcare professionals about the correct dose for children.
The overdose occurred in a 44-day-old baby born with HIV, who was given approximately 6.5 milliliters (mL) of the drug’s liquid formulation—approximately 10 times the necessary dose. The infant died nine days later from heart failure.
Abbott says that liquid Kaletra is highly concentrated and that children’s dosages are calculated based on body weight. The maximum dose, for children weighing more than 40 kilograms (88 pounds), should be no higher than 5.0 mL twice daily.
Beth Benne, RN, is HIV negative, but
the virus has impacted her life. She currently supervises a biannual HIV/AIDS awareness week as
the director of the student health center at Pierce College, a
community commuter school in Woodland Hills, California.
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Overheard in the Women's Forum
"I recently met a guy who is negative. I did tell him about my status and he decided to kiss me anyway (we didn't go further than that). But a day later, he called and said that he actually had a mouth ulcer that time when we kissed and he was very worried. Asked if he can get the virus from me that way. For that moment, I felt so insulted and yet I felt so bad. It was my first time having a contact with a "negative" guy."
