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[Placental lesions in human Trypanosoma cruzi infection].

This histopathological study analyzes placentas of babies congenitally infected with T. cruzi (M+B+), or babies not infected but born from infected- (M+B-), or non infected-mothers (M-B-). Placentas M+B+ showed lesions of chorionitis, chorioamnionitis and cord edema with lymphocyte infiltration, whereas such lesions were infiltrated only with polymorphonuclear cells in M+B- and M-B- placentas. Parasites were found in M+B+ placentas, in fibroblasts and macrophages of chorion, membranes, chorionic plate, mainly in the area of membrane insertion, as well as in cells of Wharton jelly and myocytes of umbilical cord vessels. These results suggest that the materno-fetal transmission of parasites occurs mainly through the marginal sinus, spreading into the chorionic plate infecting fibroblasts and macrophages so far as to found a fetal vessel, inducing a fetal infection by hematogenous route.

Animals↗

Haemophilus influenzae: an important cause of maternal and neonatal infections.

Although Haemophilus influenzae is recognized as a major pathogen of infants, its role in maternal and neonatal infections is not as well appreciated. We analyzed the records of all mothers and neonates infected with H influenzae over a 10-year period. Twenty-eight mother/neonate sets were identified in which at least one had documented infection with H influenzae. Of the 18 mothers with documented infection, 13 had chorioamnionitis, endometritis, or both, and two of these mothers were bacteremic with H influenzae. Of the 23 infected neonates, 15 presented with early sepsis and/or pneumonia and nine had conjunctivitis. During the period of the study, only group B streptococci and Escherichia coli were more common as causes of early neonatal bacteremia. Under the conditions of this retrospective study, maternal infection predicted neonatal infection. However, prospective studies in which asymptomatic patients are cultured will be required to determine how well maternal colonization/infection with H influenzae predicts neonatal infection.

Chorioamnionitis↗

Stripping the fetal membranes at term. Is the procedure safe and efficacious?

A prospective, randomized investigation was undertaken in a low-risk group of pregnant women at term (38-42 weeks' gestation) to determine if stripping the fetal membranes would safely result in earlier delivery. Ninety-nine patients entered the study; 51 underwent stripping of the membranes, and 48 controls did not. Fifty-nine percent of the patients in the stripped group delivered within one week as compared to 21% in the nonstripped group (P less than .0003). Two pregnancies in the stripped group advanced beyond 42 weeks' gestation as compared to six pregnancies in the control group (P = .12). A single gravida in the control group developed chorioamnionitis during labor. There were no other infections or other complications. Stripping the membranes was associated with earlier delivery and was not associated with any complications.

Chorioamnionitis↗

[Perinatal listeriosis--a case report].

Listeria monocytogenes, an uncommon perinatal infection in human, has been reported to be correlated with abortion, premature labor, intrauterine fetal sepsis, intrauterine fetal death and neonatal infections. Reported here was the first case of perinatal listeriosis complicated with Listeria monocytogenes chorioamnionitis at 33 weeks' gestation in Taiwan. The transabdominal amniocentesis in this particular case confirmed the diagnosis. An live premature male fetus was delivered by emergency cesarean section on the next day of hospitalization due to acute fetal distress. The acute ill baby developed signs of meningitis on the following day. Blood culture of Listeriosis monocytogenes indicated early onset neonatal listeriosis. Brain sonography showed hydrocephalus after a one-month period antibiotic treatment, he was lost to follow-up one month later. A review of the literature is presented to describe the clinical, epidemiological and pathological findings and to highlight their variable presentations and procedures for management. Thus it is of great importance for obstetricians to include listeriosis as a differential diagnosis in cases of fever of unknown origin during pregnancy. Promptly obtaining proper cultures and instituting appropriate antibiotics therapy is emphasized.

Adult↗

[Fetal and neonatal outcome prolonged ruptured membranes in a gestational age of less than 24 weeks].

The view appears to be generally held that the survival chances of fetuses in cases of very early rupture of the membranes are low. We report a retrospective study of 12 pregnancies with prolonged rupture of the membranes less than or equal to 24 weeks menstrual age. There was no significant maternal morbidity. After birth special attention was given to respiratory problems, deformities and infections. Four children were born at menstrual age less than 26 weeks. In all cases an intrauterine infection was found (chorioamnionitis). The eight children born greater than or equal to 26 weeks had good chances of survival despite oligohydramnios (all) and deformities (four). Severe intrauterine infections were not present in this group. An expectant obstetric management in cases of very early prolonged rupture of the membranes seems justified.

Asphyxia Neonatorum↗

Management of asymptomatic, term gestation neonates born to mothers treated with intrapartum antibiotics.

Intrapartum antibiotics are frequently administered to parturient women for suspected chorioamnionitis to treat infection in the mother and to prevent or treat infection in the baby. We sent a questionnaire to the 150 United States fellowship program directors in neonatology and pediatric infectious disease, focusing on recommendations for evaluation and therapy of apparently healthy, pretreated, term gestation infants. Eighty-three (55%) of the completed responses were analyzed. Sixteen (19%) respondents do no initial laboratory evaluation but simply observe the baby, 65 (78%) take a complete blood count as well as a platelet count, 59 (71%) obtain blood cultures, 41 (49%) check urine antigen for Group B Streptococcus (GBS) and 23 (28%) perform a lumbar puncture. Only 39% of respondents would begin antibiotic therapy for all pretreated infants. If the evaluation were unremarkable 65 directors would treat for less than or equal to 3 days. If only the urine GBS antigen were positive 47 would treat for greater than or equal to 7 days, while if an elevated immature neutrophil:total neutrophil ratio were the sole abnormality 19 would treat for greater than or equal to 7 days. Forty-four respondents thought that a combination of an elevated immature neutrophil:total neutrophil ratio and a positive urine GBS antigen should always be considered indicative of bacteremia. Given a different scenario, that of a mother treated with intrapartum antibiotics because of a positive cervical culture for GBS and a risk factor (e.g. temperature greater than or equal to 38 degrees C), 58 respondents would begin antibiotics. There is no consensus regarding management of pretreated, healthy appearing, term gestation neonates.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Emergent cerclage.

Emergent cerclage may be defined as that performed in the setting of advanced cervical dilation with bulging or "hourglass" membranes. During a five year period, 15 patients with bulging or hourglass membranes and marked cervical dilation in the second trimester were treated with emergent cerclage. Included were two triplet gestations. Complications were limited to intraoperative rupture of fetal membranes in two patients and chorioamnionitis either in the early postoperative period (two) or later in pregnancy (three). Pregnancy was prolonged for a sufficient time to deliver viable fetuses in 11 of 15 patients. Eleven of 13 neonates of a gestational age of 24 weeks or more survived. The lack of significant maternal morbidity combined with the results for the fetus-infant supports further efforts in this area.

Cervix Uteri↗

Intrapartum asphyxia in pregnancies complicated by intra-amniotic infection.

Intra-amniotic infection has been reported to be associated with intrapartum asphyxia; however, the criteria used to define asphyxia have been imprecise. In the present study of 123 women with intra-amniotic infection and 6769 women without infection, the mean umbilical artery pH was 7.28 in both groups. The frequency of acidemia (umbilical artery pH less than 7.20) was not significantly different between the infection group and controls (15 versus 10%; P = .12). Likewise, there was no significant difference between the groups when a lower umbilical artery pH value (less than 7.15) was used to define acidemia. None of the infants from infected mothers had metabolic acidemia with a pH of less than 7.15 and none had a pH of less than 7.00. Significantly more (P less than .05) infants in the infected group did have low 1-minute (20 versus 5%) and 5-minute (3 versus 1%) Apgar scores of 6 or less, criteria often used to define asphyxia. However, none of the newborns from the infected group had recently proposed criteria for the diagnosis of birth asphyxia (ie, leading to neurologic impairment) such as metabolic acidemia, seizures in the immediate newborn period, and low Apgar scores (3 or less). Birth asphyxia is rarely associated with intra-amniotic infection, and in the absence of other signs of fetal jeopardy such as an ominous fetal heart rate pattern, an immediate cesarean to prevent asphyxia does not appear justified once the diagnosis of chorioamnionitis is made.

Acidosis↗

Premature rupture of membranes prior to 34 weeks gestational age. One year experience at a tertiary center.

Records were reviewed of all patients with premature rupture of the membranes (PROM) at or less than 34 weeks estimated gestational age (EGA) who delivered at University Hospital of Jacksonville, Florida, during 1987. That year 132 patients were identified, 3.1% of all deliveries. The mean time from membrane rupture to delivery was three days, and the duration of PROM seven or more days in 9% of cases. Chorioamnionitis was diagnosed in 20% of the mothers. Delivery was by cesarean section in 30% of cases, twice the primary rate at University Hospital for 1987. Sixty-five percent of infants were male, and 13 males and four females of the 132 infants died before or after birth, the majority due to prematurity. Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) was found in 35 infants and in 80% of these cases the membrane ruptured at 30 weeks or less. Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) was diagnosed in 8% of cases. Neonatal sepsis was a common diagnosis (41% of deliveries) with incidence being similar at all gestational ages. The length of membrane rupture was not statistically significant when compared with neonatal sepsis (P = 0.39).

Bacterial Infections↗

Infectious disease-related deaths of low birth weight infants, United States, 1968 to 1982.

Infant mortality rates in the United States are higher than in any other developed country. Low birth weight (LBW) is the primary determinant of infant mortality. Despite city, state, and federal programs to prevent LBW, decreases in infant mortality in the 1980s appear to be largely secondary to improved survival of LBW infants rather than to a decline in the rate of LBW births. Because prevention of mortality due to infectious disease is feasible, it was of interest to examine the role of infectious diseases in LBW infant mortality. US vital statistics mortality data for 1968 through 1982 were analyzed in terms of LBW infant mortality associated with infectious and noninfectious diseases. These analyses indicated that the rates of infectious disease-associated early neonatal and postneonatal LBW mortality increased during this time; late neonatal rates did not decline appreciably. Infectious diseases were associated with 4% of all LBW infant deaths in 1968; this had increased to 10% by 1982. Although LBW infant mortality rates associated with noninfectious diseases did not differ for white and black populations, infectious disease-associated mortality rates were consistently higher for blacks than whites in both metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. Chorioamnionitis was involved in 28% of infectious disease-associated early neonatal LBW deaths. Sepsis was an increasingly listed cause of death in all infant age periods, whereas respiratory tract infections were decreasingly listed. Necrotizing enterocolitis increased as a cause of late neonatal mortality. These data suggest that infectious diseases are an increasing cause of LBW infant mortality and these deaths occur more frequently in the black population targeted by prevention programs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Black or African American↗

Abdominal wall hot spots in pregnant women.

Using a hand-held infrared temperature sensor, temperatures were recorded from the abdominal wall in antenatal patients at 35+ weeks' gestation. The inguinal and periumbilical areas appeared to be relative "hot spots" in normal pregnancy. This noninvasive technique may be useful in confirming the diagnosis of chorioamnionitis.

Abdominal Muscles↗

Management of preterm premature rupture of membranes.

In conclusion, the suggested management for PROM follows two general principles. The first principle, which is accepted by most, consists of searching for a positive history of PROM, confirming PROM (by speculum examination, pooling, positive Nitrazine testing, and ferning), and obtaining cervical and vaginal cultures (for group B streptococcus/gonococcus and chlamydia). If free-flowing fluid from the cervix is seen, or if pooling is present, a sample should be sent for L-S and PG analysis. The cervix is assessed (for position, dilatation, and abnormalities), monitoring of maternal vital signs and fetal heart rate is done, white blood cell and differentials are obtained, and finally, immediate ultrasonogrpahy should be performed to document fetal position and viability, the number of fetuses, the amount of amniotic fluid, fetal anatomy, gestational age, and estimated weight. The other principle is a controversial one. It involves the use of amniocentesis for determination of fetal lung maturity and the presence of bacteria (if technically feasible); the use of a short course of tocolysis (terbutaline, 0.250 mg subcutaneously, or a similar medication for patient evaluation) if patient has contractions and all information is not yet available; the administration of steroids to accelerate fetal lung maturity; and finally, the administration of prophylactic antibiotics. In any event, delivery is indicated if there is clinical evidence of chorioamnionitis, as evidenced by maternal fever and tachycardia, tender uterus, fetal tachycardia, elevated white blood cell count with bands or left shift, and a positive Gram stain on examination of amniotic fluid. Antibiotic prophylaxis or treatment is only used if group B streptococcus or N. gonorrhea, or both, are present. Cesarean sections are reserved for obstetrical indications only. Furthermore, delivery is also indicated if there is evidence of lung maturity, fetal distress, active labor or advanced cervical dilatation (greater than or equal to 4 cm), PROM before the 20th to 22nd week of gestation, advanced gestational age of more than 36 weeks, or hemorrhage. In all circumstances, monitoring of the fetus with PROM is essential, with a nonstress test performed every other day to assess variable decelerations or a daily biophysical profile performed, as previously recommended. Even though no absolute recommendation exists as to the frequency of intrapartum testing, evaluation of the fetus with PROM should be done frequently, even on a daily basis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Chorioamnionitis↗

Microorganisms and premature labor.

A number of organisms, including Mycoplasma, group B Streptococcus, Bacteroides, Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis, have been isolated more frequently from patients in premature labor than from controls. Prophylactic antibiotic treatment in some studies lowered the incidence of prematurity. Silent chorioamnionitis has been noted in 15% of patients in premature labor. Untreated pyelonephritis is clearly associated with premature labor; however, the association of asymptomatic bacteriuria, appropriately treated pyelonephritis and premature labor is less clear. Some microorganisms have been demonstrated to produce phospholipase A2 and possibly prostaglandins, which might be the mechanism for some of the associations between premature labor and bacteria.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Modifications to selective conservative management in preterm premature rupture of the membranes.

Selective conservation in preterm premature rupture of the membranes (PPROM) reduces risks of infection and pulmonary hypoplasia associated with expectant management by delivering those at greatest risk, while permitting continuation of pregnancy in the remainder. Although patient selection has traditionally been a clinical decision, more accurate criteria are now available. The role of biochemical, biophysical and microbiological predictors of chorioamnionitis and fetal pulmonary status in PPROM is reviewed, and the resultant modifications to selective conservative management discussed.

Bacterial Infections↗

The natural history of preterm ruptured membranes: what to expect of expectant management.

We asked the question: What can be expected of expectant management in preterm ruptured membranes? Our findings showed that ruptured membranes during the first half of the third trimester occurred in only 1.7% (N = 298) of 17,877 pregnancies delivered at our institution, yet accounted for 20% of the total perinatal deaths during the study period. Expectant management was seldom successful; only 20 (7%) of pregnancies with preterm ruptured membranes did not begin labor within 48 hours. The condition of preterm ruptured membranes was also frequently associated with other obstetric complications such as twins, breech presentation, chorioamnionitis, and fetal heart rate decelerations in labor. We conclude that preterm ruptured membranes is an uncommon but complex obstetric problem that remains largely unsolved.

Breech Presentation↗

Isolation of genital mycoplasmas and Chlamydia trachomatis in stillborn and neonatal autopsy material.

Chlamydia trachomatis and the genital mycoplasmas are significantly prevalent in sexually active women. How these organisms may affect the outcome of pregnancy and the neonate was the principal thrust of this investigation. Placenta, liver, and lung tissue were cultured from Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Chlamydia trachomatis, and aerobic as well as anaerobic bacteria in 432 stillborn and neonatal autopsies. Genital mycoplasmas were isolated from 36 cases (8.3%). Acute chorioamnionitis and funisitis were present significantly more often in cases with genital mycoplasma than in those without these organisms. Isolation of genital mycoplasmas was not associated with an increased incidence of intrauterine fetal death, villitis, hyaline membrane disease, congenital anomalies, or polymorphonuclear leukocytes in alveolar spaces. Chlamydia trachomatis was not found in any of the sites sampled.

Autopsy↗

[Congenital cutaneous candidiasis: a case with review of the literature].

The clinical features of CCC are stereotyped. Twenty-two cases have been found in the literature. Skin lesions are present at birth (12/22) or within the first twelve hours of life (7/22) and sometimes later, up to the sixth day of life. Maculopapular lesions are the first to appear, followed by the more typical vesiculopustular rash and secondary desquamation. Involvement of the upper half of the body is frequent. Interestingly, palm and sole pustules are almost constant. Oral, periungueal and conjunctival lesions are rare. In most cases, healing occurs within ten days of topical treatment using either nystatin or imidazole derivatives. Rarely (2/22), systemic candidiasis may be associated and may progress to death because of lung or meningeal involvement. Differential diagnosis includes post-natal acquired candidiasis, infectious pustulosis-impetigo, herpes, varicella-, and syphilis. In the authors' experience, pustular erythema toxicum is the most difficult diagnosis to rule out and the value of the direct smear must be emphasized. The clinical picture of CCC correspond to intrauterine infection due to a specific chorioamnionitis, for the following reasons: the rash may occur at birth; experimental cutaneous candidiasis required from 2 to 7 days of incubation; C. albicans has already been demonstrated in the adnexae, even in cases with late onset; culture of C. albicans in multiple sites favours intrauterine infection. Ascending infection of the fetal skin by C. albicans via the birth canal occurs probably through intact membranes, but fissures or late amniocentesis may create a portal of entry. CCC is rare as compared with the frequent maternal carriage of C. albicans.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Candidiasis, Cutaneous↗

Nonintervention in premature rupture of the amniotic membranes.

One hundred and forty-one instances of premature rupture of the amniotic membranes (PROM), between 25 and 36 weeks gestation and with duration of PROM greater than six hours, were managed by bedrest, observation and no obstetric intervention. Delivery was allowed if the patient had spontaneous labor develop, and delivery was initiated for chorioamnionitis or fetal distress. The perinatal mortality was 25 of 148 infants delivered (168 of 1,000 births). The majority of neonatal deaths (64 per cent) were attributable to complications of prematurity. Neonatal sepsis was uncommon as a cause of death (0.16 per cent). Results indicate that the natural history of PROM is associated with a low incidence of serious maternal and fetal infections and that prematurity is the most serious problem.

Amniocentesis↗