Infection in pregnancy - GBS, HIV, syphilis, HCV, HBV, HSV, PVB19, Listeria, Malaria Flashcards
What infections are screened for antenatally?
- HIV - if declined at 8-12 weeks then offer again at 28 weeks
- Syphilis
- Hepatitis B
What are the complications of syphilis antenatally and postnatally?
If untreated 70-100% of infants will be infected and 25% stillborn; can also cause FGT, fetal hydrops, congenital syphilis (with long term disability), perterm birth.
Postnatally it can cause active disease in newborn infants if contracted and can cause neonatal death
Does risk of congenital syphilis increase with increasing duration of maternal syphilis prior to pregnancy?
No - the risk of congenital transmission declines with increasing duration of maternal syphilis prior to pregnancy.
What are the clinical features of syphilis?
Primary syphilis = painless genital ulcer at 3-6 weeks after infection (condylomata lata) BUT may be on the cervix and go unnoticed
Secondary syphilis = 6weeks to 6 months after infection
- Maculopapular rash
- Lesions affecting mucous membranes
Tertiary syphilis =
- 20% develop cardiovascular problems
- 5-10% develop symptomatic neurosyphilis
What is the trend in syphilis infections in the UK?
Incidence is low and falling in women but increasing infection rates in men (may be due to MSM)
About 0.15% of pregnancies screened will be positive for syphilis
How do you test for syphilis in pregnancy?
Screening -
Non-treponemal tests detect non-specific treponemal antibodies = VDRL + RPR (some false negatives)
Treponemal tests detect specific treponemal antibodies = EIAs + TPHA + FTA-abs
- Venereal Diseases Research Laboratory = VDRL
- rapid plasma reagin = RPR
- enzyme immunoassays = EIAs - detects IgG and IgM and are replacing the VDRL ad TPHA tests for screening in the UK as they are 98% sensitive and 99% specific
- T. pallidum haemagglutination assay = TPHA
- fluorescent treponemal antibody-absorbed test = FTA-abs
What increases the false negative rates in syphilis screening using non-treponemal tests?
Increased chance of false negatives with:
- Very early of late syphilis
- Reinfection
- HIV-positive
Increased chance of false positive with:
- Lupus
- Therefore refer to specialist for definitive diagnosis.*
What is the management of syphilis in pregnancy?
- Refer to GUM for appropriate contact tracing
- Antibiotics - 1.8g IM stat benzylpenicillin (1st line). More than 1 injection may be required.
What should also be done if the syphilis is not treated during pregnancy?
Treat baby immediately after delivery with IM benzylpenicillin - otherwise serious complications including developmental delay, seizures or death may occur within a few weeks
What is a complication of treatment of syphilis?
Jarish–Herxheimer reaction
Occurs due to release of proinflammatory cytokines in response to dying organisms –> worsening of symptoms, and fever for 12–24 hours
Mayy be associated with uterine contractions and fetal distress so ?admit at time of treatment commencement
How do you treat syphilis in pregnancy if the woman is penicillin allergic?
There is little evidence for use of non-penillin regimens. So offer penicillin desensitisation and post-desensitisation IM benzylpenicillin
When is HIV transmission from mother to child most likely to occur?
3rd trimester, labour, delivery or breast feeding
How long can the period between HIV infection and development of AIDS range from?
Few months to 17 years in untreated patients
How common is HIV in pregnant women? What is the risk of transmission to infant if the HIV is treated?
2 per 1000 affected
0.1% risk of transmission with treatment
What are the risk factors for vertical transmission of HIV?
What interventions are used to minimise vertical transmission of HIV in pregnancy?
- Initiation of ART by 24 weeks’ if ART-naive
- Planned elective C-section if viral load >400 HIV RNA copies/ml at 36 weeks’
- Exclusive formula feeding from birth regardless of viral load and ART use
Can women with HIV still have a planned vaginal delivery?
Yes - it is an option if viral load is <50 copies/ml at 36 weeks’ gestation
Otherwise C/S if >50 copies/ml, or if taking zidovudine(ZDV)/ monotherapy.
What is the antenatal management of HIV in pregnancy?
- Refer to joint HIV physician and obstetric clinic every 1-2 weeks at 35 weeks and delivery
- Monitor HIV viral load every 2-4 weeks at 36 weeks and delivery
- Monitor CD4 count at baseline and delivery
- ART - offer regardless of whether taken previously
What is the intrapartum management of HIV?
Mode of delivery depends on viral load at 36 weeks gestation:
- < 50 copies/mL → reassure that vaginal delivery is appropriate
- >50 copies/mL or co-existent hepatitis C → recommend elective C-section with intrapartum IV zidovudine at 38 weeks.
- If >1000 copies/ml at delivery - give IV AZT.
Cord should be clamped ASAP and the baby should be bathed immediately after birth
What is the postnatal management of HIV in pregnancy?
- Do not breastfeed - only applicable for women in UK; in under-resourced countries it is best for the infant to breastfeed
-
ART for infant within 4 hours of birth
- If low-risk → zidovudine monotherapy for 2-4 weeks
- If high-risk → triple ART (zidovudine, lamivudine and nevirapine) for 4 weeks
- NAAT/PCR for neonate on discharge then at 3 weeks, 6 weeks and 6 months - this is because Ab test cannot be used as maternal HIV antibodies will be present
What types of viruses are hep B and C?
HBV - DNA virus
HCV - RNA virus
Without Hep B treatment in pregnancy, what % of babies will contract Hep B? What about in Hep C
HBV = 90% will develop chronic infection
HCV = 3-5% transmission
What is chronic Hep B infection associated with?
- Liver failure
- Cirrhosis
- HCC
What is the management of an infant born to a Hep B positive mother?
At <12 hours of life;
- Hep B vaccination - at birth
- Hep B immunoglobulin - dose within 12 hours of life; confers 95% protection against chronic Hep B infection
What is the current immuniation schedule for infants born to HBsAg positive mothers?
- at birth (dose 1)
- 1 month following dose 1
- 2 months following dose 1
- 12 months following dose 1, + blood test for serology to check infection and immunity status.
What does the Hep B screening test look at in pregnancy?
- HBsAb - implies immunity to hepatitis B
- HBsAg - indicates presence of hepatitis B
- HBcAb - indicates previous exposure to hepatitis B
NB: detection of HCV involves anti-HCV antibodies in the serum but this is not routinely screened for.
What is the management of hepatitis B in pregnancy?
Antenatally -
- Refer to hepatologist
- Offer tenofovir if HBV is high (HBV DNA >107 IU/ml) - start in 3rd trimester and stop 4-12 weeks after delivery unlessotherwise indicated.
- Monitor HBV viral load every 2 months and LFTs monthly
Postnatally -
- Offer hepatitis B Ig and hep B immunisation to newborn
- Serology at 12 months to test infant for Hepatitis B following immunistations
- Ecourage breastfeeding
What is the risk of transmission of hepatitis B to an infant during breastfeeding?
0 - no risk of transmission with breastfeeding
How can you tell if a patient is highly infectious with HBV?
HBeAg positivity