Search

Syphilis is a treponemal infection that can be acquired sexually, hematogenously, or via vertical transmission from mother to infant. Despite evidence-based curative treatment options with penicillin, it remains a public health threat with increasing prevalence over recent years. Congenital syphilis, a condition where a fetus acquires the infection during pregnancy, can lead to stillbirth, miscarriage, preterm birth, birth defects, and lifelong physical or neurologic changes. Congenital syphilis rates in the United States increased by 261% from 2013 to 2018 and continue to increase in 2021. The only recommended treatment for syphilis in pregnancy is benzathine penicillin G because evidence of decreased risk of congenital syphilis with other modalities is lacking. Testing for syphilis is complex and includes either the reverse-sequence algorithm or the traditional algorithm. Determination of the clinical stage of syphilis includes incorporation of the previous treatment sequence and physical examination. The goal of this review was to discuss the current evidence about optimal treatment and testing during pregnancy to optimize maternal health and prevent congenital syphilis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An SSI bundle for abdominal hysterectomies can reduce the SSI rate. • Bundle elements should target preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative care and include evidence-based and evidence-supported practices. • Continued tracking, data-sharing, and re-education efforts are necessary to sustain a reduction in SSI rates after bundle implementation. To investigate abdominal hysterectomy surgical site infection (SSI) rates before and after implementation of an SSI care bundle. An SSI bundle for abdominal hysterectomies was introduced in our hospital in April 2014 to reduce the SSI rate. The practices were divided into bundle elements around preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative care. We conducted a retrospective cohort study around implementation of the SSI care bundle. Women were included if they underwent abdominal hysterectomy between 2012 and 2015. They were then divided into 2 study groups: prebundle and postbundle. The primary study outcome was SSI rate. The superficial SSI rate was the secondary outcome. The overall SSI rate was 6.18% in the prebundle group, with a median monthly SSI rate of 7.03%. After bundle implementation, the overall SSI rate declined to 2.51% (P =.02). The reduction remained significant after multivariate analysis (adjusted odds ratio 0.38; 95% confidence interval 0.15-0.88; P =.03) indicating a 62% reduction in SSI postbundle as compared to prebundle.When comparing rates based on infection classification, superficial SSIs declined significantly from 3.73% in the prebundle group to 0.90% in the postbundle group (P = 0.02). Patient demographics and pre-existing medical conditions were similar pre- and postbundle. Compliance with bundle elements was high. A significant reduction in SSI rate in abdominal hysterectomies was seen following implementation of an infection prevention bundle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A significant reduction in surgical site infection (SSI) rates in cesarean deliveries was seen following implementation of an infection prevention bundle. • The most significant impact was seen on superficial SSIs, which were also the most common SSI type. • The rate reduction was sustained over time. • Care bundles that have been shown to impact SSI rates in colorectal surgery may also impact outcomes in cesarean deliveries. This study investigated cesarean delivery surgical site infection (SSI) rates before and after implementation of a SSI care bundle. A SSI bundle for cesareans was introduced in our hospital in April 2014 to reduce the SSI rate. The practices were divided into bundle elements that reflected preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative care. We conducted a retrospective cohort study to evaluate implementation of the SSI care bundle. Women were included if they had a gestational age of at least 23 0/7 weeks and delivered a liveborn neonate(s) between 2012 and 2015. They were then divided into 2 study groups: pre-bundle and post-bundle. The primary study outcome was SSI rate. Secondary outcomes included comorbidities, perioperative factors, and SSI classification. The overall incidence of cesarean SSIs during the study time period was 1.89 (76 SSIs in 4014 cesarean deliveries). The pre-bundle mean was 2.44 and decreased to 1.1 following implementation of the SSI bundle (P =.013). This represents a 221% reduction in the SSI rate. Patient demographics and pre-existing medical conditions were similar pre- and post-bundle. Compliance with bundle elements was high. A significant reduction in SSI rate in cesarean deliveries was seen following implementation of an infection prevention bundle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Syphilis remains the most common congenital infection worldwide and has tremendous consequences for the mother and her developing fetus if left untreated. Recently, there has been an increase in the number of congenital syphilis cases in the United States. Thus, recognition and appropriate treatment of reproductive-age women must be a priority. Testing should be performed at initiation of prenatal care and twice during the third trimester in high-risk patients. There are 2 diagnostic algorithms available and physicians should be aware of which algorithm is utilized by their testing laboratory. Women testing positive for syphilis should undergo a history and physical exam as well as testing for other sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. Serofast syphilis can occur in patients with previous adequate treatment but persistent low nontreponemal titers (<1:8). Syphilis can infect the fetus in all stages of the disease regardless of trimester and can sometimes be detected with ultrasound >20 weeks. The most common findings include hepatomegaly and placentomegaly, but also elevated peak systolic velocity in the middle cerebral artery (indicative of fetal anemia), ascites, and hydrops fetalis. Pregnancies with ultrasound abnormalities are at higher risk of compromise during syphilotherapy as well as fetal treatment failure. Thus, we recommend a pretreatment ultrasound in viable pregnancies when feasible. The only recommended treatment during pregnancy is benzathine penicillin G and it should be administered according to maternal stage of infection per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. Women with a penicillin allergy should be desensitized and then treated with penicillin appropriate for their stage of syphilis. The Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction occurs in up to 44% of gravidas and can cause contractions, fetal heart rate abnormalities, and even stillbirth in the most severely affected pregnancies. We recommend all viable pregnancies receive the first dose of benzathine penicillin G in a labor and delivery department under continuous fetal monitoring for at least 24 hours. Thereafter, the remaining benzathine penicillin G doses can be given in an outpatient setting. The rate of maternal titer decline is not tied to pregnancy outcomes. Therefore, after adequate syphilotherapy, maternal titers should be checked monthly to ensure they are not increasing four-fold, as this may indicate reinfection or treatment failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zika virus is an emerging mosquito-borne (Aedes genus) arbovirus of the Flaviviridae family. Following epidemics in Micronesia and French Polynesia during the past decade, more recent Zika virus infection outbreaks were first reported in South America as early as May 2013 and spread to now 50 countries throughout the Americas. Although no other flavivirus has previously been known to cause major fetal malformations following perinatal infection, reports of a causal link between Zika virus and microcephaly, brain and ocular malformations, and fetal loss emerged from hard-hit regions of Brazil by October 2015. Among the minority of infected women with symptoms, clinical manifestations of Zika virus infection may include fever, headache, arthralgia, myalgia, and maculopapular rash; however, only 1 of every 4-5 people who are infected have any symptoms. Thus, clinical symptom reporting is an ineffective screening tool for the relative risk assessment of Zika virus infection in the majority of patients. As previously occurred with other largely asymptomatic viral infections posing perinatal transmission risk (such as HIV or cytomegalovirus), we must develop and implement rapid, sensitive, and specific screening and diagnostic testing for both viral detection and estimation of timing of exposure. Unfortunately, despite an unprecedented surge in attempts to rapidly advance perinatal clinical testing for a previously obscure arbovirus, there are several ongoing hindrances to molecular- and sonographic-based screening and diagnosis of congenital Zika virus infection. These include the following: (1) difficulty in estimating the timing of exposure for women living in endemic areas and thus limited interpretability of immunoglobulin M serologies; (2) cross-reaction of immunoglobulin serologies with other endemic flaviruses, such as dengue; (3) persistent viremia and viruria in pregnancy weeks to months after primary exposure; and (4) fetal brain malformations and anomalies preceding the sonographic detection of microcephaly. In this commentary, we discuss screening and diagnostic considerations that are grounded not only in the realities of current obstetrical practice in a largely global population but also in basic immunology and virology. We review recent epidemiological data pertaining to the risk of congenital Zika virus malformations based on trimester of exposure and consider side by side with emerging data demonstrating replication of Zika virus in placental and fetal tissue throughout gestation. We discuss limitations to ultrasound based strategies that rely largely or solely on the detection of microcephaly and provide alternative neurosonographic approaches for the detection of malformations that may precede or occur independent of a small head circumference. This expert review provides information that is of value for the following: (1) obstetrician, maternal-fetal medicine specialist, midwife, patient, and family in cases of suspected Zika virus infection; (2) review of the methodology for laboratory testing to explore the presence of the virus and the immune response; (3) ultrasound-based assessment of the fetus suspected to be exposed to Zika virus with particular emphasis on the central nervous system; and (4) identification of areas ready for development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: Despite pregnant women's increased morbidity and mortality from influenza, vaccination rates remain low. This study intended to evaluate barriers to pregnant women's uptake of influenza vaccine. Study design: A survey was designed that assessed participant demographics, knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, and general experiences with seasonal and 2009 novel H1N1 influenza. Associations between patient characteristics and vaccine uptake were then assessed. Results: 88 women completed the survey. Women who correctly answered >75% of knowledge questions regarding influenza were significantly more likely to accept the influenza vaccine (seasonal: p =0.04, H1N1: p <0.01). Conversely, patients who declined the vaccine were more likely to hold false beliefs, such as perceiving that the vaccine was not protective (seasonal: p <0.01, H1N1: p <.01) and that they were not at risk for influenza (seasonal: p < 0.01). Conclusion: The reasons for influenza vaccine declination in pregnant patients include lower levels of knowledge and unfavorable attitudes regarding the safety and efficacy of the vaccine, and suggest the importance of education as a tool to improve vaccination uptake [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We sought to determine the safety and efficiency of a telephone-based triage system for influenza-like illness, during the 2009 pandemic, at our institution. A triage system was implemented that involved initial telephone screening by a provider who determined whether outpatient telephone-based care or assessment in a centralized evaluation unit was needed. Those who received outpatient care were empirically treated. Those seen in the evaluation unit were assessed for inpatient admission. Of the 230 women who were evaluated, 41% were treated as outpatients and 59% were seen in the evaluation unit. Of those treated as outpatients, 9% were eventually seen in the evaluation unit and only 4% were ultimately admitted, with a maximum hospitalization of 4 days. Of the 135 patients initially seen in the evaluation unit, 32% were admitted and 44% had a positive polymerase chain reaction for respiratory pathogens. This triage system improved efficiency of resource utilization without incurring apparent influenza-like illness morbidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) are rapidly evolving plasmid transferrable enzymes that confer unique patterns of antibiotic resistance on various bacterial species. Such organisms pose special challenges to laboratory identification, as well as antibiotic selection, administration, and follow-up. Although such infections are increasingly common in the obstetric population, issues surrounding ESBLs are not widely recognized by practicing obstetricians, and controversies exist regarding diagnosis and management. This article provides the practitioner with a summary of clinically pertinent information that will assist in the proper care of pregnant patients with ESBL infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: In a 2015 Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network study, only half of placenta accreta spectrum cases were suspected before delivery, and the outcomes in the anticipated cases were paradoxically poorer than in unanticipated placenta accreta spectrum cases. This was possibly because the antenatally suspected cases were of greater severity. We sought to compare the outcomes of expected vs unexpected placenta accreta spectrum in a single large US center with multidisciplinary management protocol.Study Design: This was a retrospective cohort study carried out between Jan. 1, 2011, and June 30, 2018, of all histology-proven placenta accreta spectrum deliveries in an academic referral center. Patients diagnosed at the time of delivery were cases (unexpected placenta accreta spectrum), and those who were antentally diagnosed were controls (expected placenta accreta spectrume). The primary and secondary outcomes were the estimated blood loss and the number of red blood cell units transfused, respectively. Variables are reported as median and interquartile range or number (percentage). Analyses were made using appropriate parametric and nonparametric tests.Results: Fifty-four of the 243 patients (22.2%) were in the unexpected placenta accreta spectrum group. Patients in the expected placenta accreta spectrum group had a higher rate of previous cesarean delivery (170 of 189 [89.9%] vs 35 of 54 [64.8%]; P < .001) and placenta previa (135 [74.6%] vs 19 [37.3%]; P < .001). There was a higher proportion of increta/percreta in expected placenta accreta spectrum vs unexpected placenta accreta spectrum (125 [66.1%] vs 9 [16.7%], P < .001). Both primary outcomes were higher in the unexpected placenta accreta spectrum group (estimated blood loss, 2.4 L [1.4-3] vs 1.7 L [1.2-3], P = .04; red blood cell units, 4 [1-6] vs 2 [0-5], P = .03).Conclusion: Our data contradict the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units results and instead show better outcomes in the expected placenta accreta spectrum group, despite a high proportion of women with more severe placental invasion. We attribute this to our multidisciplinary approach and ongoing process improvement in the management of expected cases. The presence of an experienced team appears to be a more important determinant of maternal morbidity in placenta accreta spectrum than the depth of placental invasion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Checklists have been long used as a cognitive aid in various high-stakes environments to improve the reliability and performance of individuals and teams. When designed well, implemented thoughtfully, and monitored closely, they offer the opportunity to improve the performance of health care teams and advance patient safety. There are different types of checklists; examples include task lists, troubleshooting lists, coordination lists, discipline lists, and to-do lists. Each is useful in different situations and requires different implementation strategies. Checklists also are different from algorithms, care maps and protocols, and educational tools. Therefore, they are not useful in all situations. In appropriate selected clinical circumstances, checklists are tools that can help standardize care, improve communication, and help teams perform optimally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The purpose of this study was to determine whether adherence to an induction of labor (IOL) protocol decreases the rate of failed IOL (FIOL). Study Design We performed a 1-year retrospective chart review around the implementation of a hospital IOL protocol and compared maternal and neonatal outcomes from deliveries managed per protocol (n = 369) with those deliveries that were not (n = 230). Women at least 24 weeks' gestation with cervical dilation up to 2 cm who underwent an indicated IOL were included. Protocol-adherent (PA) inductions had amniotomy within 24 hours of starting oxytocin, intrauterine pressure catheter placement in latent labor, Montevideo units titrated to 200-300 or to adequate cervical change, and oxytocin administered for at least 12 hours after amniotomy before FIOL was diagnosed (defined as delivery by cesarean during latent labor as a result of failure to enter active labor). The primary outcome was the rate of FIOL. Control for possible confounders was made by stratification and multivariate modeling. Results FIOL rates were lowest in the PA group, which remained significant after stratification on parity and multivariate analysis (nulliparous women, 3.8% vs 9.8%; P = .043; multiparous women, 0% vs 6%; P < .0004). Median time to delivery was shortest in the PA group by 3.5 hours in nulliparous women (16.0 vs 19.5 hours, respectively; P = .0002) and 1.5 hours in multiparous women (10.75 vs 12.25 hours, respectively; P < .0001). There were no differences in infectious morbidity or neonatal outcomes between the groups. Conclusion Adherence to a standardized IOL protocol is associated with a decreased rate of FIOL and length of labor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]