Search

The primary objective of the study was to determine the risk of postpartum urinary tract infection (UTI) in women exposed to intermittent versus indwelling catheterization in labor. The secondary objective was to identify risk factors for development of postpartum UTI. A case-control study was conducted between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2016. Cases were defined as patients who were diagnosed with UTI and controls were not diagnosed with UTI. Obstetrical, infectious, and catheterization variables were collected. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed. A total of 26,517 full-term vaginal deliveries occurred during the study period with a rate of postpartum UTI of 0.7%. There were 166 cases and 695 controls included in the analysis. There was no significant difference in the rate of UTI between patients who underwent indwelling versus intermittent (reference) catheterization (OR 1.05, 95% CI: 0.67–1.64, p =.826). On multivariate analysis, significant risk factors for UTI included the relationship between use of catheterization and duration of labor (p =.026) and history of UTI during the pregnancy (p <.001). In this study, there was no difference in the rate of postpartum UTI based on catheterization method. Further studies are needed to determine the optimal method of catheterization during labor and to enable providers to implement quality improvement strategies aimed at decreasing the risk of infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prenatal SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with higher rates of pregnancy and birth complications, despite that vertical transmission rates are thought to be low. Here, multi-omics analyses of human placental tissues, cord tissues/plasma, and amniotic fluid from 23 COVID-19 mother-infant pairs revealed robust inflammatory responses in both maternal and fetal compartments. Pronounced expression of complement proteins (C1q, C3, C3b, C4, C5) and inflammatory cytokines (TNF, IL-1α, and IL-17A/E) was detected in the fetal compartment of COVID-19-affected pregnancies. While ~26% of fetal tissues were positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA, more than 60% of fetal tissues contained SARS-CoV-2 ORF8 proteins, suggesting transplacental transfer of this viral accessory protein. ORF8-positive fetal compartments exhibited increased inflammation and complement activation compared to ORF8-negative COVID-19 pregnancies. In human placental trophoblasts in vitro, exogenous ORF8 exposure resulted in complement activation and inflammatory responses. Co-immunoprecipitation analysis demonstrated that ORF8 binds to C1q specifically by interacting with a 15-peptide region on ORF8 (C37-A51) and the globular domain of C1q subunit A. In conclusion, an ORF8-C1q-dependent complement activation pathway was identified in COVID-19-affected pregnancies, likely contributing to fetal inflammation independently of fetal virus exposure., Competing Interests: Disclosure and competing interests statement The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objective: Identify risk factors for postpartum readmission in class 3 obese patients undergoing unscheduled cesarean deliveries., Study Design: Retrospective cohort study of patients with BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2 undergoing unscheduled cesarean delivery from 2017-2020 comparing patients with and without postpartum readmission (unexpected admission, emergency room/overnight observation visit, unscheduled outpatient visit, or ambulatory surgery within 30 days). Medical history, operative data, and postpartum outcomes were compared between the cohorts., Results: "The electronic medical record was queried to identify cesarean deliveries documented as 'unscheduled'". 255 of 1273 identified patients (20.0%) had a postpartum readmission. Median BMI was similar between the cohorts (44.2 kg/m2, IQR [41.8, 47.9] vs. 44.8 kg/m2 [42.0, 48.9], p= 0.066). Readmitted patients were more likely to have a history of smoking during or prior to pregnancy (p= 0.046). A sub-group exploratory analysis excluding outpatient and emergency room visits demonstrated higher rates of type II diabetes mellitus in patient's with postpartum readmission (11.5% vs 4.6%, p= 0.030). Patients with readmission in comparison to those without readmissions were less likely to receive cefazolin prophylaxis (78.0% vs 84.3%, p= 0.014) in comparison to gentamicin/clindamycin prophylaxis. Patients with readmission were less likely to have had vaginal preparation (56.9% vs 64.3%, p= 0.027). On multivariable logistic regression analysis, smoking history (OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.06-1.96, p= 0.0220) and hypertensive disease (OR 1.57, 95% CI 1.18-2.09, p 0.002) were associated with readmission. Cefazolin preoperative prophylaxis (OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.41-0.84, p= 0.004) and vaginal sterile preparation (OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.54- 0.95, p= 0.022) were associated with decreased risk of readmission., Conclusions: In class 3 obese patients, a history of smoking and a diagnosis of hypertensive disease associate with increased risk of postpartum readmission. Perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis with cefazolin along with vaginal sterile preparation associate with decreased risk of postpartum readmission., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Cefazolin is the most common antibiotic used for prophylaxis in obstetrics and gynecology. Among those with a penicillin allergy, alternative antibiotics are often chosen for prophylaxis, given fears of cross-reactivity between penicillin and cefazolin. Alternative antibiotics in this setting are associated with adverse sequelae, including surgical site infection, induction of bacterial resistance, higher costs to the healthcare system, and possible Clostridium difficile infection. Given the difference in R1 side chains between penicillin and cefazolin, cefazolin use is safe and should be recommended for patients with a penicillin allergy, including those who experience Immunoglobulin E-mediated reactions such as anaphylaxis. Cefazolin should only be avoided in those who experience a history of a severe, life-threatening delayed hypersensitivity reaction manifested as severe cutaneous adverse reactions (Steven-Johnson Syndrome), hepatitis, nephritis, serum sickness, and hemolytic anemia in response to penicillin administration. In addition, >90% of those with a documented penicillin allergy do not have true allergies on skin testing. Increased referral for penicillin allergy testing should be incorporated into routine obstetric care and preoperative assessment to reduce suboptimal antibiotic prophylaxis use. More education is needed among providers surrounding penicillin allergy assessment and cross-reactivity among penicillins and cephalosporins to optimize antibiotic prophylaxis in obstetrics and gynecology., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Vaccination is a cornerstone of public health, but vaccine hesitancy poses significant challenges as highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Addressing the challenge requires healthcare professionals to effectively counter misinformation. They have a pivotal role in fostering trust and promoting evidence-based vaccine recommendations, with tailored communication strategies and community engagement initiatives. Legislation, policy interventions, research, innovation, and technology are needed to enhance vaccine uptake and ensure equitable access. Integration of vaccination into routine healthcare is paramount for public health protection against emerging infectious threats., (Copyright © 2024 The Cleveland Clinic Foundation. All Rights Reserved.)

Objective: Perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis reduces cesarean wound complications. This study investigates whether integration of standard-dose (500 mg) azithromycin prophylaxis reduced wound complications in patients with class III obesity (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 40 kg/m 2 ) undergoing unscheduled cesarean delivery., Study Design: Retrospective cohort study of patients with class III obesity undergoing unscheduled cesarean delivery in single hospital system from January 1, 2017, to January 1, 2020. A standard dose (500 mg) of azithromycin was integrated into system order sets in 2018. Medical history and postoperative wound outcomes were compared in pre- and postintegration cohorts. Wound complication was defined as composite of wound seroma, hematoma, superficial or deep infection., Results: A total of 1,273 patients met inclusion criteria, 303 patients in the preorder set group, and 970 patients in the postorder set group. Demographics were similar between the pre- and postintegration cohorts, including BMI (median: 44.4 kg/m 2 , p  = 0.84) and weight at delivery (mean: 121.2 ± 17.8 kg, p  = 0.57). Patients in the postintegration cohort had lower rates of composite postpartum wound complication (7.9 vs. 13.9%, p  = 0.002), superficial infection or deep infection/abscess (6.7 vs. 10.2%, p  = 0.042), and postpartum readmission or unscheduled visits (18.7 vs. 24.4%, p  < 0.029). Rates of chorioamnionitis and endometritis were similar between the pre- and postintegration groups (8.6 vs. 6.9%, p  = 0.33, and 1.7 vs. 1.9%, p  = 0.81, respectively). Patients in the postintegration cohort had lower risk of postoperative composite wound complication (unadjusted odds ratio [OR]: 0.54, confidence interval [CI]: 0.36-0.80, p  = 0.002) and lower rates of wound infection (unadjusted OR: 0.63, 95% CI: 0.40-0.99, p  = 0.044). When comparing patients who received azithromycin at delivery and patients who did not, standard-dose azithromycin reduced risk of postoperative wound complication (unadjusted OR: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.46-0.99, p  = 0.043)., Conclusion: A standard dose of azithromycin provides adequate perioperative prophylaxis in class III obese patients, decreasing rates of postcesarean wound complications and unscheduled postpartum outpatient visits., Key Points: · Class III obese patients undergoing unscheduled cesarean have high rates of wound complications.. · Standard-dose azithromycin reduces risk of postcesarean wound infection in class III obese patients.. · Standard-dose azithromycin reduces readmission, unscheduled visits in class III obese patients.., Competing Interests: None declared., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Molecular diagnostic testing (eg, polymerase chain reaction [PCR]-based vaginitis testing) is widely used in clinical practice, although vaginitis experts have reservations about its use for vaginitis diagnosis. As with any new technology, cost to the health system is a large concern. Although clinical evaluation of signs and symptoms along with wet mount microscopy is traditionally used for vaginitis diagnosis, it is less accurate compared with molecular diagnostic testing. Here we review the benefits of adopting newer molecular diagnostics into routine gynecologic practice with some guidance from vaginitis experts that favor both traditional and more modern approaches. We argue that instead of trying to resist the oncoming tide of molecular diagnostics, we can embrace them and put them to appropriate use to effect rapid, accurate, and more flexible diagnosis of vaginitis conditions for our patients., (Copyright © 2024 by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Vulvovaginitis occurs in mostly reproductive aged women. Recurrent vaginitis affects overall quality of life, with a large financial burden on the patient, family, and health system. This review discusses a clinician's approach to vulvovaginitis with specific attention to the 2021 updated Center for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. The authors discuss the role of the microbiome in vaginitis and evidence-based approaches for diagnosis and treatment of vaginitis. This review also provides updates on new considerations, diagnosis, management, and treatment of vaginitis. Desquamative inflammatory vaginitis and genitourinary syndrome of menopause are discussed as differential diagnosis of vaginitis symptoms., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Ibrexafungerp is a novel antifungal treatment for acute vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC). Using pooled data from two phase three studies (VANISH 303 and 306) in the treatment of acute VVC, this analysis sought to determine the effectiveness of ibrexafungerp in various patient subgroups that may impact outcomes. Materials and Methods: Data from VANISH 303 (NCT03734991) and VANISH 306 (NCT03987620) evaluating ibrexafungerp 300 mg twice daily (BID) for 1 day versus placebo, were pooled and analyzed to determine clinical cure rate, clinical improvement, and mycological cure at the test-of-cure visit (day 11 ± 3) and symptom resolution at the follow-up visit (day 25 ± 4) in the overall population. Patient subgroups analyzed included race, body mass index (BMI), baseline vulvovaginal signs and symptoms (VSS) score, and Candida species. Results: At the test-of-cure visit, patients receiving ibrexafungerp, compared with those who received placebo, had significantly higher rates of clinical cure (56.9% [214/376 patients] vs. 35.7% [65/182 patients]), clinical improvement (68.4% [257/376 patients] vs. 45.1% [82/182 patients]), and mycological cure (54.0% [203/376 patients] vs. 24.2% [44/182 patients]; all p  < 0.0001). At the follow-up visit, patients receiving ibrexafungerp had sustained responses with higher symptom resolution rates (66.8% [251/376 patients]) versus placebo (48.4% [88/182 patients]; p  < 0.0001). Race, BMI, baseline VSS score (including VSS severity score 13-18), and Candida species infection did not adversely affect clinical cure rates. Safety analysis results were consistent with the individual studies. Conclusions: Ibrexafungerp provides a safe and well-tolerated first-in-class fungicidal, 1-day oral treatment for patients with acute VVC, the first new therapy in >20 years. Clinical Trial Registration Number: NCT03734991.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic brought significant changes in health care, specifically the accelerated use of telehealth. Given the unique aspects of prenatal care, it is important to understand the impact of telehealth on health care communication and quality, and patient satisfaction. This mixed methods study examined the challenges associated with the rapid and broad implementation of telehealth for prenatal care delivery during the pandemic., Objective: In this study, we examined patients' perspectives, preferences, and experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the aim of supporting the development of successful models to serve the needs of pregnant patients, obstetric providers, and health care systems during this time., Methods: Pregnant patients who received outpatient prenatal care in Cleveland, Ohio participated in in-depth interviews and completed the Coronavirus Perinatal Experiences-Impact Survey (COPE-IS) between January and December 2021. Transcripts were coded using NVivo 12, and qualitative analysis was used, an approach consistent with the grounded theory. Quantitative data were summarized and integrated during analysis., Results: Thematic saturation was achieved with 60 interviews. We learned that 58% (35/60) of women had telehealth experience prior to their current pregnancy. However, only 8% (5/60) of women had used both in-person and virtual visits during this pregnancy, while the majority (54/60, 90%) of women participated in only in-person visits. Among 59 women who responded to the COPE-IS, 59 (100%) felt very well supported by their provider, 31 (53%) were moderately to highly concerned about their child's health, and 17 (29%) reported that the single greatest stress of COVID-19 was its impact on their child. Lead themes focused on establishing patient-provider relationships that supported shared decision-making, accessing the information needed for shared decision-making, and using technology effectively to foster discussions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Key findings indicated that participants felt in-person visits were more personal, established greater rapport, and built better trust in the patient-provider relationship as compared to telehealth visits. Further, participants felt they could achieve a greater dialogue and ask more questions regarding time-sensitive information, including prenatal genetic testing information, through an in-person visit. Finally, privacy concerns arose if prenatal genetic testing or general pregnancy conversations were to take place outside of the health care facility., Conclusions: While telehealth was recognized as an option to ensure timely access to prenatal care during the COVID-19 pandemic, it also came with multiple challenges for the patient-provider relationship. These findings highlighted the barriers and opportunities to achieve effective and patient-centered communication with the continued integration of telehealth in prenatal care delivery. It is important to address the unique needs of this population during the pandemic and as health care increasingly adopts a telehealth model., (©Caitlin G Craighead, Christina Collart, Richard Frankel, Susannah Rose, Anita D Misra-Hebert, Brownsyne Tucker Edmonds, Marsha Michie, Edward Chien, Marissa Coleridge, Oluwatosin Goje, Angela C Ranzini, Ruth M Farrell. Originally published in JMIR Formative Research (https://formative.jmir.org), 05.12.2022.)

Objective: This study systematically examines risk for postpartum depressive symptoms based on COVID-19 positivity status during pregnancy., Methods: This is a retrospective matched cohort study of pregnant patients admitted to labor and delivery units from March through December 2020. Patients were administered three depression screening questions followed by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)., Results: 129 patients with positive COVID-19 tests (most with mild symptoms) were matched with 516 COVID-19 negative controls. We found no significant differences in rates of positive responses to screening questions (14/129, 10.9% vs. 72/516, 14.0%; p = .35) or EPDS scores >9 (6/97, 6.2% vs. 42/410, 10.2%; p = .22). Prior history of psychiatric illness was the only significant predictor of an EPDS score > 9 (adjOR 2.57, p = .002) or a positive brief screen for postpartum depressive symptoms (adjOR 2.93, p < .001)., Conclusions: No significant differences in the rates for postpartum depressive symptoms were observed among pregnant women with and without a positive COVID-19 test during pregnancy, suggesting that testing positive for COVID-19 during pregnancy was not associated with an increased risk for the development of depressive symptoms during the acute postpartum period. Overall rates of postpartum depression symptoms were low, perhaps owing to the higher socioeconomic status of the sample., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background: Syphilis screening during pregnancy helps prevent congenital syphilis. The harms associated with false positive (FP) screens and whether screening leads to correct treatments has not been well determined., Methods: The population included mothers and infants from 75 056 pregnancies. Using laboratory-based criteria we classified initial positive syphilis screens as FP or true positive (TP) and calculated false discovery rates. For mothers and infants we determined treatments, clinical characteristics, and syphilis classifications., Results: There were 221 positive screens: 183 FP and 38 TP. The false discovery rate was 0.83 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.78-0.88). False discovery rates were similar for traditional 0.83 [95% CI, 0.72-0.94] and reverse algorithms 0.83 (95% CI, 0.77-0.88), and for syphilis Immunoglobin (Ig) G 0.79 (95% CI, 0.71-0.86) and total 0.90 (95% CI, 0.82-0.97) assays. FP screens led to treatment in 2 women and 1 infant. Two high-risk women were not rescreened at delivery and were diagnosed after hospital discharge; 1 infant developed congenital syphilis. Among 15 TP women with new syphilis, the diagnosis was before the late third trimester in 14 (93%). In one-half of these women, there was concern for reinfection, treatment failure, inadequate treatment or follow-up care, or late treatment, and their infants did not achieve an optimal syphilis classification., Conclusions: Syphilis screening identifies maternal syphilis, but limitations include FP screens, which occasionally lead to unnecessary treatment, inconsistent risk-based rescreening, and among TP mothers failure to optimize care to prevent birth of infants at higher risk for congenital syphilis., (Copyright © 2022 by the American Academy of Pediatrics.)

Background: Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is the second most common vulvovaginitis (VV). About 20% of women will experience recurrent infections in their lifetime with non- albicans Candida (NAC) species being one of the causative agents. Although studies have looked at risk factors for recurrent VVC they are limited in scope. In this study, we explore whether risks of recurrent VVC are increased with NAC infections compared to Candida albicans infections. Methods: Through an institutional review board-approved retrospective chart review, we identified 174 women with positive yeast cultures and followed their charts to assess recurrent visits and treatments. We also assessed several baseline variables such as race, age, body mass index (BMI), obstetric history, probiotic use, contraceptive use, mycological therapy, steroid use, hormone replacement therapy, menopausal status, and medical comorbidities. Results: Women with NAC VV were more likely to have multiple visits for recurring infections compared to women who had C. albicans VV (66% vs. 34%). The women with multiple recurrences were younger, had a lower BMI, had lower parity, and endorsed higher use of probiotics. Conclusion: Women with positive NAC cultures were more likely to have multiple visits to their physicians for VV complaints. Identifying the causative species using vaginal fungal cultures can more accurately guide therapy and lead to better outcomes for these patients.

Objective: This study aimed to systematically review the relative effectiveness of preincision cefazolin with or without adjunctive prophylaxis (macrolides or metronidazole) vs cefazolin alone in decreasing the incidence of postcesarean delivery surgical site infections., Data Sources: We performed a systematic search on PubMed, Ovid EMBASE, Google Scholar, ClinicalTrials.gov, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from October 25, 2020, to November 25, 2020, to identify studies comparing cefazolin with adjunctive macrolides or metronidazole with cefazolin alone. The reference lists were reviewed, and a manual search of articles published after the last database search was performed., Study Eligibility Criteria: Overall, 3 randomized controlled trials and 1 prospective observational study of reproductive-age women undergoing cesarean deliveries were included in the study. We excluded studies of women who were immunocompromised (eg, patients who were HIV positive) or women with a diagnosis of chorioamnionitis before cesarean delivery. All patients received first-line cefazolin (either cefazolin 1 g or 2 g). We compared preincision cefazolin alone with preincision cefazolin plus adjunctive therapy (500 mg, oral or intravenous formulations of azithromycin, metronidazole, or clarithromycin)., Methods: A total of 6 review authors independently assessed the risk of bias for each study, using the Cochrane Risk of Bias criteria. Synthesis and further appraisal were done using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation levels and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists appraisal guidelines. Disagreements were resolved by discussion. Treatment effects were evaluated using meta-analysis, and pooled relative risks and 95% confidence intervals were generated using random-effects models using the Review Manager 5 software (version 5.4.1)., Results: Overall, 3 randomized controlled trials and 1 prospective observational study representing 2613 women met the criteria for inclusion. Significant reductions in surgical site infections (relative risk, 0.46; 95% confidence interval, 0.34-0.63; 3 randomized controlled trials) and the duration of hospital stay (weighted mean difference, -1.46; 95% confidence interval, -2.21 to -0.71; 2 randomized controlled trials) were observed with preincision cefazolin and adjunctive prophylaxis compared with cefazolin alone. No significant difference was observed in maternal febrile morbidity (relative risk, 0.38; 95% confidence interval, 0.11-1.25; 2 randomized controlled trials)., Conclusion: Our findings have provided evidence for the use of preincision adjunctive extended-spectrum prophylaxis with cefazolin over cefazolin alone. However, future investigations are required to establish the relative efficacies of different adjunctive antibiotic options., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background Obstetricians and gynecologists, who serve a vital role in providing women's healthcare in the United States, are at risk of COVID-19 exposure via asymptomatic patients and deliveries. This study analyzes state-level geographical distribution of COVID-19 cases and age distribution of Obstetricians and gynecologists (OB/GYNs) to project which US regions will experience a more significant COVID-19 patient burden and provides a guide for vaccine distribution in the OB/GYN workforce. Methods The Association of American Medical Colleges' state-level workforce data is combined with COVID-19 case data reported by Johns Hopkins University. All data and code are available at https://github.com/cxr244/covid-obgyn. Results Our findings illustrate that OB/GYNs in the Midwestern region of the US experience the highest number of COVID-19 patients per OB/GYN over 60 years of age: North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Idaho have the highest burden of COVID-19 patients per OB/GYN, warranting vaccine distribution priority. Additionally, states with the highest proportion of OB/GYNs over the age of 60 like Florida (38%), New Mexico (37%), Alabama (36%), California (36%), and New Jersey (34%), should be strongly considered for priority vaccine allocation, to mitigate predicted OB/GYN workforce shortages.  Conclusion When planning and executing vaccine allocation, especially in the early stages of distribution, it is critical to evaluate which communities can benefit the greatest from the limited number of vaccines. A strategy of distribution of COVID-19 vaccines to older physicians with a more significant COVID-19 burden can minimize shortages of providers within these states and ensure adequate access to women's healthcare within the communities they serve., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2021, Shastri et al.)

Objective: To compare the success rate, complications, and hospital length-of-stay of 3 modalities of minimally invasive management of tubo-ovarian abscesses (TOAs): laparoscopy, ultrasound-guided drainage, and computed tomography-guided drainage., Data Sources: Electronic-based search in PubMed, EMBASE, Ovid MEDLINE, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, using the following Medical Subject Heading terms: "minimally invasive surgical procedures," "drainage," "abscess," "tubo-ovarian," "ovarian diseases," and "fallopian tube diseases.", Methods of Study Selection: Of the 831 articles in the initial results, 10 studies were eligible for inclusion in our systematic review., Tabulation, Integration, and Results: A total of 975 patients were included in our study; 107 (11%) had laparoscopic drainage procedures, and 406 (42%) had image-guided (ultrasound or computed tomography) drainage of TOAs. Image-guided TOA drainage had higher success rates (90%-100%) than laparoscopic drainage (89%-96%) and the use of antibiotic treatment alone (65%-83%). Patients treated with image-guided drainage had no complications (for up to 6 months of follow-up) and shorter lengths of hospital stay (0-3 days on average) compared with laparoscopic drainage (5-12 days) or conservative management with antibiotics alone (7-9 days)., Conclusion: Although conservative management of TOAs with antibiotics alone remains first-line, our review indicates that better outcomes in the management of TOA were achieved by minimally invasive approach compared with conservative treatment with antibiotics only. Of the minimally invasive techniques, image-guided drainage of TOAs provided the highest success rates, the fewest complications, and the shortest hospital stays compared with laparoscopy. The low magnitude of evidence in the included studies calls for further randomized trials. This systematic review was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Review (register, http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO;CRD 42020170345)., (Copyright © 2020 AAGL. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The 2019 coronavirus disease pandemic poses unique challenges to healthcare delivery. To limit the exposure of providers and patients to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention encourages providers to use telehealth platforms whenever possible. Given the maternal mortality crisis in the United States and the compounding 2019 coronavirus disease public health emergency, continued access to quality preconception, prenatal, intrapartum, and postpartum care are essential to the health and well-being of mother and baby., Objective: This commentary explores unique opportunities to optimize virtual obstetric care for low-risk and high-risk mothers at each stage of pregnancy., Methods: In this review paper, we present evidence-based literature and tools from first-hand experience implementing telemedicine in obstetric care clinics during the pandemic., Results: Using the best evidence-based practices with telemedicine, health care providers can deliver care in the safest, most respectful, and appropriate way possible while providing the critical support necessary in pregnancy. In reviewing the literature, several studies endorse the implementation of specific tools outlined in this article, to facilitate the implementation of telemedicine. From a quality improvement standpoint, evidence-based telemedicine provides a solution for overburdened healthcare systems, greater confidentiality for obstetric services, and a personalized avenue for health care providers to meet maternal health needs in the pandemic., Conclusion: During the COVID-19 pandemic, continued access to quality prenatal, intrapartum, and postpartum care are essential to the health and well-being of mother and baby.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to build and validate a statistical model to predict infection after caesarean delivery (CD)., Methods: Patient and surgical variables within 30 d of CD were collected on 2419 women. Postpartum infection included surgical site infection, urinary tract infection, endomyometritis and pneumonia. The data were split into model development and internal validation (1 January-31 August; N = 1641) and temporal validation subsets (1 September-31 December; N = 778). Logistic regression models were fit to the data with concordance index and calibration curves used to assess accuracy. Internal validation was performed with bootstrapping correcting for bias., Results: Postoperative infection occurred in 8% (95% CI 7.3-9.9), with 5% meeting CDC criteria for surgical site infections (SSI) (95% CI 4.1-5.8). Eight variables were predictive for infection: increasing BMI, higher number of prior Caesarean deliveries, emergent Caesarean delivery, Caesarean for failure to progress, skin closure using stainless steel staples, chorioamnionitis, maternal asthma and lower gestational age. The model discriminated between women with and without infection on internal validation (concordance index = 0.71 95% CI 0.67-0.76) and temporal validation (concordance index = 0.70, 95% CI 0.62, 0.78)., Conclusions: Our model accurately predicts risk of infection after CD. Identification of patients at risk for postoperative infection allows for individualized patient care and counseling.

Purpose: To identify the rate of surgical site infection (SSI) after Cesarean delivery (CD) and determine risk factors predictive for infection at a large academic institution., Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study in women undergoing CD during 2013. SSIs were defined by Centers for Disease Control (CDC) criteria. Chi square and t-tests were used for bivariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression was used to identify SSI risk factors., Results: In 2419 patients, the rate of SSI was 5.5% (n = 133) with cellulitis in 4.9% (n = 118), deep incisional infection in 0.6% (n = 15) and intra-abdominal infection in 0.3% (n = 7). On multivariate analysis, SSI was higher among CD for labor arrest (OR 2.4; 95%CI 1.6-3.5; p <.001). Preterm labor (OR 2.8; 95%CI 1.3-6.0; p = .01) and general anesthesia (OR 4.4; 95%CI 2.0-9.8; p = .003) were predictive for SSI. Increasing BMI (OR 1.1; 95%CI 1.05-1.09; p = .02), asthma (OR 1.9; 95%CI 1.1-3.2; p = .02) and smoking (OR 1.9; 95%CI 1.1-3.2; p = .02) were associated with increased SSI., Conclusions: Several patient and surgical variables are associated with increased rate of SSI after CD. Identification of risk factors for SSI after CD is important for targeted implementation of quality improvement measures and infection control interventions.

Purpose: To identify the rate of postpartum endomyometritis (PPE) after cesarean delivery (CD) in the era of antibiotic prophylaxis and determine risk factors., Methods: A single institution retrospective study was performed in women undergoing CD. Data regarding obstetrical and surgical variables were collected. Diagnosis of PPE was made clinically., Results: Among 2419 patients, the rate of PPE was 1.6% (n = 38) and was associated with lower age (27.0 versus 31.0; p < .001). 65.7% of patients having chorioamnionitits developed PPE, but only 5.4% of patients without PPE had chorioamnionitis (p < .001). On multivariate analysis, PPE was higher in emergent versus scheduled CD (OR: 5.89; p = .0081). There was no difference in PPE for cefazolin 2 g versus 1 g (OR: 1.91; p = .17) or 3 g versus 1 g (OR: 3.69; p = .29), gentamicin/clindamycin versus cefazolin (OR: 5.60; p < .001) had higher PPE. Women with PPE were more likely to have labor arrest (OR: 4.336; p = .001), sexually transmitted infection during the pregnancy (OR: 4.197; p = .02) or blood transfusion (OR: 9.50; p < .0001)., Conclusions: While the overall rate of PPE was low, several risk factors were identified. Preoperative diagnosis of chorioamnionitits is associated with a higher rate of PPE. Further studies are needed to identify optimal regimens for antimicrobial prophylaxis in women undergoing CD.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify the rate of catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) after Cesarean delivery (CD) and to determine if any factors increase risk of infection., Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed at a multi-center institution for patients who underwent CD in 2013. All patients had urinary catheters inserted before surgery. Diagnosis followed IDSA guidelines with culture growing greater than 10 3 CFU of bacteria per mL with symptoms or symptomatic urinary tract infections treated at provider discretion. Statistical analysis was assessed with Chi-square and Student's t-test followed by logistic regression., Results: Of 2419 patients, 36 patients developed CAUTI (1.5%). In the 24 (66.7%) cases diagnosed by IDSA guidelines, Escherichia coli was the most common causative organism (54.1%); followed by Enterococcus faecalis (16.7%), Streptococccus agalactiae (8.3%), and Group A Streptococcus (8.3%). Longer operative time (OR 1.013; 95% 1.002-1.023; p = .02) and pregnancies complicated by STI (OR 4.15; 95% CI 1.11-15.0; p < .05) were associated with higher rates of CAUTI., Conclusions: The overall rate of CAUTI after CD was low at 1.5%. Escherichia coli was the most common causative pathogen. Identification of the patients at high risk for CAUTI allows for risk reduction measures.

Vulvar and vaginal disorders are among the most common problems seen in ambulatory care. The cause is usually infectious, but noninfectious causes should also be considered, and differentiating them can be challenging. Accurate diagnosis based on patient history, physical examination, and laboratory testing is necessary so that effective therapy can be chosen., (Copyright © 2017 Cleveland Clinic.)