Protozoan infection in the perinatal period

Protozoan infections represent an area of concern for advanced practice nurses, particularly those working in rural areas or urban environments with refugee populations and those caring for patients with immunodeficiency-related diseases. Some of these infections have major effects on the fetus and neonate yet pose minimal problems to the mother. Protozoan infections are increasing in prevalence because of poor sanitation, overcrowding, increased foreign travel, and high-risk sexual behaviors. There is a need for public education to promote awareness and prevention of such infections. This emerging public health problem has been reported sporadically in the medical and perinatal nursing literature. This paucity of information may be partly due to the difficulty in diagnosing and managing these infections in the perinatal patient. The article discusses the more common infections caused by protozoa, amebae, and sporozoa: trichomoniasis, giardiasis, amebiasis, and toxoplasmosis.