Transplacental Infection: Frequency, Testing, and Treatment

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Infectious Diseases
• Neonatology

Background:

• Transplacental infections, caused by viruses (e.g., cytomegalovirus), bacteria, and protozoa, pose serious risks to fetal development.
• These infections can lead to severe consequences for the unborn child, necessitating a focus on prevention, testing, and treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current strategies for preventing, diagnosing, and treating transplacental infections in pregnant women.
• To highlight the importance of early detection and intervention to mitigate adverse fetal outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A narrative review of pertinent publications from 1946 to 2015.
• Searches were conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Google Scholar, supplemented by medical society guidelines.

Main Results:

• Transplacental infections, like CMV, occur with varying incidence rates in Germany (e.g., 1:200 for CMV).
• While many infected newborns are asymptomatic, risks include sensorineural hearing loss (CMV) and retinochoroiditis (toxoplasmosis), with potential for long-term neurocognitive sequelae.
• Vertical transmission rates are lower before 20 weeks gestation, but the risk of permanent harm is higher.

Conclusions:

• Hygiene education and exposure prophylaxis are key preventive measures for pregnant women.
• Anti-infectious treatment during pregnancy can decrease transmission risk, and treating symptomatic neonates improves outcomes.