Infections in pregnancy

Bacterial infections

Syphilis

Transplacental

It is the most important transplacental bacterial infection that can occur at any time during pregnancy, and is caused by a spiral-shaped microorganism called Treponema Pallidum.

Infection of the fetus can cause its death in utero in 50% of cases, or a premature birth. The newborn may show early signs, generally between the 2nd and 16th week of life, characterized by inflammation of the nasal mucosa with pus and haemorrhages, skin lesions, inflammation of the bone, enlargement of the liver and lymph nodes, anemia, jaundice, haemorrhages and renal changes, or late signs after the second year of life, consisting of visual changes, deafness, joint pain and blood vessel injuries.
Screening is carried out with ultrasound and serological tests. The affected mother must be promptly treated with the antibiotic penicillin.

Listeria Monocytogenes

Transplacental, perinatal

Transplacental transmission is more frequent in the 3rd trimester; causes death in utero of the fetus or premature birth with dead newborn or a "generalized infection with the presence of multiple abscesses in various organs (liver, brain, lungs, spleen) and called infantiseptic granulomatosis. In the case of perinatal transmission, the infection occurs between the 2nd and 4th week of life, usually with meningitis. Screening is carried out with ultrasound and serological tests.
In the affected mother, the pharmacological treatment must be timely and is carried out with a combination of antibiotics (ampicillin and aminoglycoside).

Group B streptococcus

Perinatal

The mother, almost always asymptomatic carrier in the vaginal mucus, can transmit the infection to the newborn as it passes through the birth canal. The infection can cause meningitis which becomes evident by the 10th day of life.

Gonorrhea

Perinatal

Neisseria Gonorrhoeae (gonococcus), present in the maternal vaginal secretions, can infect the newborn causing a conjunctivitis with pus or, more rarely, a pharyngitis or respiratory or anal canal infections of the newborn.Screening is performed with serological tests and treatment with high-dose antibiotics (penicillin or ampicillin).

Tuberculosis

Perinatal

Infection occurs if the mother has a tuberculous inflammation of the uterus; the symptoms are evident at the end of the first month of life.

Chlamydia Trachomatis

Perinatal

Infection of the maternal genitals can cause fetal miscarriage, perinatal mortality, preterm birth, growth retardation in the uterus or, in the newborn, conjunctivitis, pneumonia, or otitis media after an incubation period of 5-14 days. screening is carried out with ultrasound and serological tests and therapy with antibiotics (macrolides).