Infections in Pregnancy & the Neonate

Question 1

• Congenital:

Answer 1

condition present at birth (inherited or caused by the environment)

Question 2

Perinatal period:

Answer 2

commences at 22 weeks (154 days) of gestation & ends seven days after birth

Question 3

• Neonatal period:

Answer 3

first 28 days of life

Question 4

• Postnatal:

Answer 4

first 6 weeks after birth

Question 5

vertical transmission

Answer 5

• Across the placenta (intrauterine)
• During birth
• Direct contact with maternal body fluids
• Prolonged rupture of membranes
• After birth (from mother or other contacts)

Question 6

Maternal Microbiota

Answer 6

• Newborn’s gut microbiota can affect its own immune system

* Some evidence - mother’s microbiome shapes the immune system of her offspring

Question 7

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are
frequently encountered in pregnant
women.

Answer 7

women.
• Pyelonephritis is the most common serious medical condition seen in pregnancy.
• During pregnancy, urinary tract changes predispose women to infection.
• Ureteral dilation is seen due to compression of the ureters from the gravid uterus.
• Hormonal effects of progesterone also may cause smooth muscle relaxation leading to dilation and urinary stasis, and vesicoureteral reflux increases.

Question 8

asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB).

Answer 8

• ASB is defined as more than 100,000 organisms/mL on a clean catch urinalysis obtained from an asymptomatic patient.
• If asymptomatic bacteriuria is untreated in pregnancy, the rate of subsequent UTI is approximately 25%.