Infections in Pregnancy Flashcards
How is CMV transmitted?
Personal contact
Give 4 fetal/neonatal effects of CMV.
IUGR
Pneumonia
Thromocytopenia
Hearing, visual and mental impairment
Give 3 ix done in CMV.
CMV IgM
USS shows intracranial / hepatic calcifications
Amniocentesis at least 6 weeks after maternal infection will confirm or refute transmission
Describe the pathology of herpes simplex.
Type 2 DNA virus is responsible for most genital herpes.
How is herpes simplex transmitted to the fetus and what effects does it pose to the fetus?
Vertical transmission at vaginal delivery, especially following recent primary maternal infection
Neonatal infection is rare, but high mortality
How is herpes simplex diagnosed?
Clinical dx
Give 4 mx of herpes simplex.
- Refer to GUM clinic
- C-section for those delivering within 6 weeks of a primary attack, and those with genital lesions at time of delivery
- Daily aciclovir in late pregnancy
- Give aciclovir to exposed neonates
Which period does herpes zoster virus cause severe neonatal infection?
4 weeks preceeding delivery, especially 5 days after or 2 days before maternal symptoms
What is the mx of herpes zoster?
- Maternal blood checked for varicella antibodies
- VZ Ig within 10 days if non-immune
- Aciclovir if infection occurs
List 5 teratogenic infections.
CMV Rubella Toxoplasmosis Syphillis Herpes zoster
List 9 effects of rubella infection on the fetus,
- sensorineural deafness
- congenital cataracts
- congenital heart disease (e.g. patent ductus arteriosus)
- growth retardation
- hepatosplenomegaly
- purpuric skin lesions
- ‘salt and pepper’ chorioretinitis
- microphthalmia
- cerebral palsy
Give 2 mx of rubella.
- If a non-immune woman develops rubella before 16 weeks’ gestation, TOP is offered
- Vaccinate after end of pregnancy
List 3 consequences of Parvovirus on the fetus.
- Anaemia (virus suppresses fetal erythropoesis)
- Thrombocytopenia
- Fetal death (usually before 20 weeks)
How is parvovirus diagnosed?
Positive maternal IgM test
How is anaemia detected on USS?
- Initially increased blood flow velocity in the fetal middle cerebral artery on Doppler USS
- Subsequently fetal hydrops from cardiac failure
Give 2 mx of parvovirus.
- Mothers are scanned regularly
2. When hydrops is detected, in utero transfusion
List 2 ways Hep B is transmitted.
- Blood products
- Sexual activity
- Vertical transmission during delivery
List 3 mx of Hep B.
- Women with a high viral load are treated with antiviral agents from 32 weeks
- Babies born to mothers who are chronically infected with hepatitis B or to mothers who’ve had acute hepatitis B during pregnancy should receive a complete course of vaccination + hepatitis B immunoglobulin
List 2 risk factors of Hep C.
- Drug abuse
2. Sexual transmission
List 2 factors that increase the risk of vertical transmission of Hep C.
- High viral loads
2. Coexisting HIV infection
List 4 effects of HIV on the mother and fetus.
- Stillbirth
- Pre-eclampsia
- IUGR
- Prematurity
Give 5 factors which increase the risks of HIV vertical transmission.
- Low CD4 counts
- High viral load
- Coexistent infection
- Premature delivery
- During labour
- Ruptured membranes >4h
Give 3 mx of HIV in resourced countries.
- Regular CD4 and viral load tests
- Screen for genitral tract infections
3, Prophylaxis against Pneumocystic carinii pneumonia (PCP) is given if CD4 is low - HAART during prenancy and delivery
- Neonate treated for first 6 weeks
- HAART started at 28 weeks if no pre-pregnancy tx
How is drug toxicity monitored in HIV mothers?
- Liver test
- Renal test
- Haemogloblin levels
- Blood glucose test
List 2 indicators of C-section in HIV women.
- Viral load > 50 copies/mL
2. Coexistent Hep C infection
List 2 mx of HIV in under-resourced countries.
- Single dose of nevirapine in labour and to the neonate
2. Advise breastfeeding limited to 6 months
List 4 methods to prevent vertical transmission of HIV.
- Maternal antiretroviral therapy
- Neonatal antiretroviral therapy
- Elective C-section
- Avoidance of breastfeeding
List 3 effects of ZIKA virus on the fetus.
- Intracranial calcification
- Ventriculomegaly
- Microcephaly
How is ZIKA prevented?
Aedes is active during the day , so best protected by repellent
List 3 signs and symptoms of ZIKA on the mother.
- Rash
- Fever
- Guillain-Barre symptoms
How is ZIKA diagnosed?
PCR
List 2 mx of mothers suggestive of ZIKA symptoms.
- Fetal assessment for CNS abnormalities
2. TOP
Give an eg of Group A Strep.
Strep pyogenes
How is group A strep transmitted?
Maternal hand to perineal contamination
List 4 consequences of Group A strep.
- Chrorioamnionitis
- Abdo pain
- Diarrhoea
- Sepsis
How is Group A strep managed?
- High does abx
2. Intensive care
Give an eg of GBS.
Strep agalactiae
List 4 factors which increase the risk of GBS vertical transmission.
- Ruptured membranes
- Preterm labours
- Prolonged labour
- Maternal fever
Describe the prevention of vertical transmission of GBS.
Strategy 1: Risk factors Treat with IV penicillin in labour if: 1. Previous hx 2. Intrapartum fever >38C 3. Current preterm labour 4. ROM >18h
Strategy 2: Screening
- Vaginal and rectal swabs at 35-37w
- Treat with IV penicillin if swabs positive or risk factors present
What is the name of the microorganism which causes syphilis?
Treponema pallidum
List 3 consequences of syphilis in pregnancy.
- Miscarriage
- Severe congenital disease
- Stillbirth
How is syphilis managed?
Benzylpenicillin
Give the name of the screening test of syphilis.
Venereal Disease Research Laboratories (VDRL) test
Name the organism which causes toxoplasmoxis.
Toxoplasma gondii
List 2 methods toxoplasmosis is transmitted.
- Contact with cat faeces or soil
2. Eating infected meat
List 4 effects of toxoplasmosis on the fetus.
- Mental handicap
- Convulsions
- Spasticities
- Visual impairment
List 2 ix done on toxoplasmoxis mothers.
Maternal IgM test
USS may show hydrocephalus
List 3 mx of toxoplasmoxis.
- Health education
- Spiramycin
- If vertical transmission confirmed, add pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine with folinic acid
List 3 consequences of TB on pregnancies.
- Prematurity
- IUGR
- Maternal mortality
List 3 consequences of malaria on pregnancies.
- Severe maternal anemia
- IUGR
- Stillbirth
List 3 mx of malaria.
- Artemisinin combination therapy (ACT)
- Intermittent preventive Tx (IPT) of 2 doses at least a month apart
- Insecticide-impregnated mosquito nets
List 3 foods which increase the risk of Listeriosis.
Pates, soft cheeses, prepacked meals
List 3 consequences of Chlamydia and gonorrhoea.
- PID
- Subfertility
- Neonatal conjunctivitis
- Preterm labour
What is the tx for Chlamydia?
Azithromycin
if pregnant then azithromycin, erythromycin or amoxicillin
What is the tx for Gonorrhoea?
IM ceftriaxone
List 2 organisms which cause BV.
- Gardnerella vaginalis
2. Mycoplasma hominis
List 2 consequences of BV.
- Preterm labour
2. Late miscarriage
How is BV treated?
Clindamycin (best before 20w)
List 5 features of fetal varicella syndrome.
- skin scarring
- eye defects (microphthalmia)
- limb hypoplasia
- microcephaly
- learning disabilities
Give the mx of chickenpox exposure in pregnancy.
- if there is any doubt about the mother previously having chickenpox maternal blood should be urgently checked for varicella antibodies
- if the pregnant women is not immune to varicella she should be given varicella zoster immunoglobulin (VZIG) as soon as possible. VZIG is effective up to 10 days post exposure
- oral aciclovir should be given if pregnant women with chickenpox present within 24 hours of onset of the rash