Congenital and Perinatal Infections Flashcards
What is a prenatal infection?
an infection that is acquired or carried by the mother which is transmitted to the developing fetus
What is a perinatal infection?
an infection transmitted around the time of delivery
What is a postnatal infection?
an infection acquired after delivery from the family/health care workers/community
What is vertical transmission?
transmission from mother to fetus/baby - either transplacental or via breast milk
What is horizontal transmission?
from one person/baby to another
What is an ascending infection?
where vaginal organisms ascend to produce a fetal infection - more common when the membrane is ruptured
What are some of the possible effects of an infection on the fetus?
the mother’s infection without transmission to the fetus can cause premature delivery or fetal death - the transmission of the infection to the fetus can cause end organ damage in the fetus or chronic infection in the fetus
What family is the varicella zoster virus from?
herpesviridae
How does chicken pox spread?
either respiratory or direct contact with vesicles
What are the possible complications of chicken pox?
secondary bacterial infection, pneumonitis, acute cerebellar ataxia
Why is a primary infection of varicella more severe in pregnant women?
because pregnancy makes you immunocompromised
What are the symptoms of congenital varicella syndrome due to an infection in the first trimester?
limb hypoplasia, cicatricial scarring, microcephaly, cataracts, mental retardation, gastrointestinal and genitourinary abnormalities
What is perinatal varicella?
where mum gets an infection with varicella -7 to +2 days from delivery which is then transmitted to the neonate and causes disseminated infection
Who is given prophylactic VZIG?
susceptible pregnant women, infants whos mother has varicella around the time of delivery, immunocompromised patients and premature babies
What is the treatment for acute varicella?
acyclovir
What type of vaccine is the varicella vaccine?
live attenuated virus
What family is cytomegalovirus from?
herpesviridae
Where does cytomegalovirus stay latent?
in white blood cells
What is the transplacental route of infection for CMV?
haematogenous
What are the perinatal routes of infection for CMV?
genital secretions, saliva, breast milk
Why is the second baby of a family more likely to get congenital CMV?
because the first child can acquire CMV at day care and pass it on to the pregnant mum
What are the symptoms of CMV infection from horizontal transmission in newborns?
hepatomegaly, respiratory distress, atypical lymphocytosis
What is congenital CMV?
babies are born with CMV due to mum acquiring a primary infection during pregnancy or a reactivation during pregnany - a primary infection has much higher risk of transmission to the fetus
What are the symptoms of congenital CMV?
rash, hepatomegaly, microcephaly, calcification around ventricles, small brain - but only about 10% are symptomatic
