Neurologic infections of the fetus and newborn

This article concentrates primarily on infections of viral origin, although numerous microorganisms can infect the fetal and newborn brain (see Tables 1 and 2). Intrauterine infections occur most often for HIV, CMV and rubella, whereas HSV is preferentially transmitted intrapartum. In the last decade, changes in the epidemiology of some of the neonatal infections have occurred largely because of the AIDS epidemic. Indeed, pediatric HIV is now the second most frequent viral infection of the newborn (see Table 1) and congenital syphilis has reemerged. Surprisingly, the AIDS epidemic appears to have had minimum impact on infections with other organisms such as Toxoplasma and CMV that commonly infect the brain of adults with AIDS. The recent availability of improved viral diagnostic methods and anti-viral drugs has aided in the identification and treatment of infected newborns.