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[Screening for Salmonella in pregnancy]
A Citernesi1, G Spinelli, G Piazzesi
1Divisione di Ostetricia e Ginecologia, Ospedale Misericordia e Dolce, Prato.
Minerva Ginecologica
|December 1, 1994
Summary
Routine Salmonella screening in pregnant women is not cost-effective. Testing may be beneficial for symptomatic women during late summer and fall, but hygiene remains key for newborn infection prevention.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Infectious Disease Prevention
- Microbiology
Context:
- National health authorities recommend stool cultures for pregnant women to detect Salmonella carriers.
- Screening aims to prevent neonatal transmission and nursery outbreaks.
- The Tuscany section of the Italian Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists evaluated this screening's utility.
Purpose:
- To assess the effectiveness and cost-benefit ratio of Salmonella screening in pregnant women.
- To determine the prevalence of Salmonella carriers in an obstetric population.
- To identify risk factors and optimal timing for screening.
Summary:
- A study of 7431 pregnant women at 36 weeks found a Salmonella carrier prevalence of 0.27%.
- Diarrhea increased the risk of being a Salmonella carrier by 11.8 times.
- Positive cases were mainly detected in late summer and fall; no nursery outbreaks occurred.
Impact:
- The study suggests routine screening is not cost-effective due to limitations in therapy and transmission prevention.
- Screening may be more useful for symptomatic women during specific seasons (late summer/fall).
- Strict adherence to hygiene protocols in delivery rooms and nurseries is essential for preventing newborn infections.