Screening for Gonococcal and Chlamydial Infections in the Third Trimester

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) during pregnancy pose risks to both mother and child.
• Traditional STI screening relies on identifying patients with risk factors, potentially missing asymptomatic cases.
• A new practice involved universal screening for Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis in the first and third trimesters.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness and identify challenges of universal STI screening during pregnancy.
• To determine the prevalence of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis in pregnant patients.
• To assess the optimal timing for STI screening in obstetric care.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study of patients delivering between May 2016 and April 2017.
• Review of medical records for Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis screening results.
• Analysis of traditional STI risk factors and screening compliance.

Main Results:

• 10.7% of pregnant patients did not undergo STI screening.
• Asymptomatic infections with Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis were identified in the third trimester.
• Cases were found in patients without traditional STI risk factors, questioning screening protocols.

Conclusions:

• Universal STI screening in pregnancy is crucial for detecting infections in asymptomatic individuals.
• Current screening practices may miss infections due to reliance on risk factors.
• Further research is needed to establish optimal timing for STI screening during pregnancy to improve maternal and infant outcomes.