gynecology and obstetrics
Infectious Disease in Pregnancy
Introduction
Most common maternal infections (eg, UTIs, skin and respiratory tract infections) are usually not serious problems during pregnancy, although some genital infections (bacterial vaginosis and genital herpes) affect labor or choice of delivery method. Thus, the main issue is usually use and safety of antimicrobial drugs. However, certain maternal infections can damage the fetus, as may occur in the following: Congenital and Perinatal Cytomegalovirus Infection (CMV) None Neonatal Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Infection None Congenital Rubella None Congenital Toxoplasmosis None Neonatal Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Infection None Congenital Syphilis None Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection in Infants and Children can be transmitted from mother to child transplacentally or perinatally. When the mother is not treated, risk of transmission at birth is about 25 to 35%. Listeriosis None Spontaneous Abortion None Preterm Labor None Stillbirth None Neonatal Listeriosis can be transmitted from mother to child transplacentally or perinatally. Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) None Prelabor Rupture of Membranes (PROM) None Preterm labor Tests for these infections are done during routine prenatal evaluations or if symptoms develop. Genital Herpes None When women have visible herpetic lesions When women who have a known history of infection develop prodromal symptoms before labor When herpes infection first occurs during the late 3rd trimester (when cervical viral shedding at delivery is likely) If visible lesions or prodrome is absent, even in women with recurrent infections, risk is low, and vaginal delivery is possible. If women are asymptomatic, serial antepartum cultures do not help identify those at risk of transmission. If women have recurrent herpes infections during pregnancy but no other risk factors for transmission, labor can sometimes be induced so that delivery occurs between recurrences. When delivery is vaginal, cervical and neonatal herpesvirus cultures are done.Acyclovir(oral and topical) appears to be safe during pregnancy. 