Perinatal listeriosis 1. What every clinician should know Clinical features and incidence Listeriosis is mainly a food-borne infection, and sporadic cases as well as epidemics have been linked to contaminated food. Uncooked meats and vegetables as well as unpasteurized milk can be sources of Listeria monocytogenes. Exposure and transient colonization of the gastrointestinal tract is…
Rubella in Pregnancy 1. What every clinician should know A major worldwide epidemic of rubella spread to the United States in 1964, resulting in 12 million cases of rubella, 11,000 fetal deaths, and 20,000 cases of congenital rubella syndrome (CRS). This prompted a vaccination program in 1969 that reduced the incidence of rubella cases from…
Tuberculosis in Pregnancy 1. What every clinician should know Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by a bacterium called mycobacterium tuberculosis. This microorganism is a highly aerobic, acid-fast staining rod. The bacteria usually infect the lungs, but may infect any part of the body, including the kidney, spine, and brain. If not treated, TB can be fatal.…
Genital Herpes: Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV-1 and HSV-2) 1. What every clinician should know Herpes simplex virus (HSV) Herpes Simplex type 1 (HSV-1) and Herpes Simplex type 2 (HSV-2) are ubiquitous, host adapted pathogens which cause infections worldwide. HSV-1 and HSV-2 are also referred to as genital herpes. Genital herpes is one of the most…
Vulvovaginal Yeast Infections 1. What every clinician should know Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a common cause of irritative lower genital tract symptoms in women. Approximately 75% of women will experience at least one episode of VVC during their life time, while up to 45% will experience two or more episodes. Chronic, recurrent VVC (RVVC) is…
