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Updated: Aug 10, 2026
07:04
Human Placental and Decidual Organ Cultures to Study Infections at the Maternal-fetal Interface
Published on: July 21, 2016
Infections in pregnancy: highlights from the collaborative perinatal project
Teratology
|April 1, 1982
Summary
This study investigated infections during pregnancy and their impact on newborns. Researchers found varying infection rates across the US, highlighting the need for further research into fetal and neonatal health.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- The Collaborative Perinatal Project collected data from 60,000 pregnant women and their children.
- Longitudinal data was gathered throughout pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum, with child follow-up to age seven.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of maternal infections in fetal and neonatal damage.
- To determine the frequency and geographic variation of infections during pregnancy.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of clinical data and blood samples from mothers and newborns.
- Serological testing to identify and document specific infections like rubella, cytomegalovirus, and herpes simplex virus.
Main Results:
- Identified frequencies of specific infections per 10,000 births: rubella (8), rubeola (0.6), mumps (10), varicella-zoster (5).
- Demonstrated geographic variations in infection prevalence.
- Provided epidemiological data on various viral infections.
Conclusions:
- Infections during pregnancy pose risks to fetal and neonatal health.
- Further sophisticated laboratory methods and data analysis are ongoing to better understand these risks.
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