MI: Viral Infections in Pregnancy Flashcards
What are the three times at which viral infections can be transmitted from the mother to the baby?
- In utero
- Perinatally (from vaginal secretions and blood during labour)
- Postnatally (from breast milk and other sources)
What are the potential viral causes of rashes during pregnancy?
- VZV (chicken pox and shingles)
- EBV
- HSV
- CMV
- Parvovirus B19
- Enterovirus
- Measles
- Rubella
What type of virus is rubella?
- RNA virus
- Togaviridae family
How is rubella transmitted?
- Via respiratory droplets (therefore ISOLATE in suspected cases)
- Virus replicates in lymphoid tissue of URT then spreads haematogenously
What are the symptoms of rubella infection?
20-50% subclinical
- Prodrome (1-5 days pre rash) - coryza, sore throat, headache, low-grade fever
- Fine macular rash - mildy pruritic, starts on face and spreads to trunk/limbs within hours
- Lymphadenopathy - tender, postauricular/cervical/suboccipital
What is the classic triad of congenital rubella syndrome?
- Sensorineural hearing loss
- Congenital cardiac defects (mainly PDA)
- Eyes - cataracts, retinopathy, microphthalmia
- Other: mental retardation, meningoencephalitis, microcephaly, hepatosplenomegaly, thrombocytopaenic purpura
Describe the relationship between gestation at which rubella infection occurs and the risk of congenital abnormalities.
- Highest risk from 0-12 weeks
- Low risk from 13-20 weeks
- Very low risk >20 weeks
If infected before 10 weeks, 90% incidence of foetal defects
Describe some tests that are used in the diagnosis of rubella.
- Serology - IgG, IgM
- Detection of virus (PCR) - blood, urine, tissues
What is the role of pre-natal diagnosis of rubella?
All cases of symptomatic rubella infection in the 1st trimester should be considered for termination of pregnancy without prenatal diagnosis
What type of vaccine is the MMR?
Live attenuated vaccine
What is the definition of congenital CMV infection?
Detection of CMV from bodily fluids (normally urine and saliva) or tissues within the first 3 weeks of life
NOTE: it is the MOST COMMON congenital viral infection
How is CMV transmitted?
Infectious bodily fluids: saliva, respiratory droplets, urine, blood, breastmilk
What are the main symptoms of CMV infection?
Largely asymptomatic
- Maculopapular rash
- Infectious mononucleosis-like illness
Describe the risk of transmission from primary vs non-primary infection
- Primary infection - 30% transmit virus across placenta
- Non-primary infection - 1% transmit virus across placenta
Non-primary infection far more common than primary infection due to high CMV seroprevalence rates
What is the term used to describe congenital changes that occur as a result of CMV infection? List some features.
Cytomegalic inclusion disease
- CNS - microcephaly, ventriculomegaly, encephalitis, peri-ventricular calcifications
- Eye - chorioretinitis
- Ear - sensorineural deafness
- Liver - hepatosplenomegaly, jaundice
- Thrombocytopaenia
NOTE: late sequelae include hearing defects, mental retardation, and epilepsy
CMV associated with periventricular calcifications, whereas toxoplasmosis associated with diffuse intracranial calcifications
What is the risk of CMV non-primary compared to primary CMV infection to the foetus?
Lower risk of foetal abnormalities
What proportion of cases of congenital CMV infection are asymptomatic at birth?
90%
What is the most common neurodevelopment abnormality causes by congential CMV?
Sensorineural deafness
Outline some tests used in the diagnosis of CMV infection.
- PCR of urine/saliva/amniotic fluid/tissue
- Serology - IgG, IgM
How is suspected antenatal maternal CMV infection investigated?
- If maternal CMV infection is suspected then check serology (compare booking to repeat sample)
- If seroconversion suspected (i.e. infection during pregnancy) then refer to fetal medicine unit for USS +/- amniocentesis for CMV PCR
- No treatment available
- Neonates are investigated – urine and saliva CMV PCR within 1st 21 days.
Describe how foetal CMV infection is diagnosed
Amniotic fluid PCR at 21 weeks gestation
How is congenital CMV infection treated?
- There is NO vaccine
- Congenital CMV with significant organ disease
- Valganciclovir or ganciclovir for 6 months
- Audiology follow-up until age 6 years
- Ophthalmology review
How are HSV 1 and 2 transmitted?
What are the incubation periods between oro-facial infection and genital infection?
- Transmitted via direct contact with infected lesions
- Oro-facial incubation - 2-12 days
- Genital incubation - 4-7 days
What are the symptoms of HSV 1 and 2 infection?
Can be asymptomatic
- Painful vesicular rash
- Lymphadenopathy
- Fever
What is the difference between primary, non-primary, and recurrent HSV infection?
- Primary infection - first occurrence of gential HSV. No pre-existing HSV1 or HSV2 antibodies.
- Non-primary infection - 1st episode of gential HSV but only has antibodies to the other HSV type
- Recurrent infection - current HSV infection with pre-existing antibodies. Infection may previously have been asymptomatic or symptomatic.
How can HSV be transmitted to foetus and neonate?
Foetal infection - ascending infection in PROM
Neonatal infection:
- Direct contact with infected secretions during delivery
- Kiss baby with oral herpes