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Background: Mycoplasma genitalium is an emerging pathogen, which has been linked to cervicitis, urethritis and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). With the advent of multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) panels for sexually transmitted infections, it is increasingly being identified in pregnant women. Objectives: The aim was to review international guidelines, which had explicit recommendations for treatment of M. genitalium infection in pregnancy and breastfeeding. Search Strategy: PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane databases were reviewed with no age, species, language or date restrictions. Selection Criteria: Studies were included if they had an explicit recommendation for treatment of M. genitalium in pregnancy. Studies were excluded if there was no recommendation in pregnancy, if they referred to other international guideline recommendations or were historical versions of guidelines. Data Collection and Analysis: References were manually reviewed and 50 papers were selected for review. Only four guidelines were included in the final analysis and they were from Europe, UK, Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. Main Results: All studies recommended azithromycin as first‐line treatment, and advised against moxifloxacin use. The dosing schedule of azithromycin, varied between guidelines, as did the utility/safety of pristinamycin for macrolide resistant infections. Safety data was generally reassuring for azithromycin but inconsistent for pristinamycin. Conclusions: Azithromycin is the first‐line treatment for macrolide susceptible or unknown resistance infections, but there is a lack of consistency regarding dosing of azithromycin or the utility/safety of pristinamycin for macrolide resistant infections in pregnancy/lactation. Synopsis: While international guidelines recommend azithromycin as first‐line treatment for M. genitalium infections in pregnancy, there are inconsistencies around second‐line treatment options and azithromycin dosing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Bacteraemia in pregnancy and the post‐partum period can lead to maternal and newborn morbidly. The purpose of this study was to use machine learning tools to identify if bacteraemia in pregnant or post‐partum women could be predicted by full blood count (FBC) parameters other than the white cell count. Methods: The study was performed on 129 women with a positive blood culture (BC) for a clinically significant organism, who had a FBC taken at the same time. They were matched with controls who had a negative BC taken at the same time as a FBC. The data were split in to a training (70%) and test (30%) data set. Machine learning techniques such as recursive partitioning and classification and regression trees were used. Results: A neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) of >20 was found to be the most clinically relevant and interpretable construct of the FBC result to predict bacteraemia. The diagnostic accuracy of NLR >20 to predict bacteraemia was then examined. Thirty‐six of the 129 bacteraemia patients had a NLR >20, while only 223 of the 3830 controls had a NLR >20. This gave a sensitivity of 27.9% (95% CI 20.3‐36.4), specificity of 94.1% (93.3‐94.8), positive predictive value of 13.9% (10.6‐17.9) and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 97.4% (97.2‐97.7) when the prevalence of bacteraemia was 3%. Conclusion: The NLR should be considered for use in routine clinical practice when assessing the FBC result in patients with suspected bacteraemia during pregnancy or in the post‐partum period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metabolic complications, including diabetes mellitus, have been increasingly recognised in HIV-infected individuals since the introduction of antiretroviral therapy, particularly protease inhibitors (PIs). Pregnancy is also a risk factor for impaired glucose metabolism, and previous studies have given conflicting results regarding the contribution of PIs to impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in pregnant HIV-infected women. We conducted a retrospective review of all HIV-infected women attending a combined infectious disease and antenatal clinic between 2007 and 2013 who underwent a 100 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at 24-28 weeks. We grouped the patients based on whether their OGTT result was normal or abnormal, and compared the groups using standard parametric tests (t-test and Fisher's exact test). Of 263 women with HIV who attended the clinic, 142 (53.9%) attended for OGTT and were eligible for inclusion. The mean age was 31 years (SD 5.37), all women were of European or African origin and 33.7% had a body mass index ≥30 kg/m(2) About 93.7% were on PI-based regimens. At delivery, the mean CD4 count was 526 cells/µL, and 13% of patients had a detectable viraemia. The prevalence of IGT was 2.8%, while the prevalence of GDM was 2.1%. Also, 71.4% (n = 5) of women with abnormal glucose metabolism were taking PIs versus 94.8% (n = 128) of normoglycaemic women (p = 0.06). We did not confirm an increased rate of GDM in HIV-infected women in our patient population and found no association between PI use and GDM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All cases of positive syphilis serology detected in antenatal and peripartum screening in a large teaching maternity hospital in inner city Dublin, Ireland over an eight-year period (2005-2012 inclusive) were reviewed and included in our study. Demographic, antenatal registration, laboratory (including co-infections), partner serology, treatment and delivery data were recorded in our database. Infant follow-up, treatment and outcome data were also collected. During this period, 194 women had positive syphilis serology, of which 182 completed their pregnancies at the institution. This accounts for 0.28% of the total number of women completing their pregnancies during this time (N = 66038); 79 had no previous diagnosis of infection. There was one case of re-infection during pregnancy. Thirty-two women were co-infected with human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B or hepatitis C. There was one case suggestive of congenital syphilis infection. Our study is a comprehensive analysis of the diagnosis, management and clinical outcomes of women testing positive for syphilis infection in pregnancy. It reveals the relatively high prevalence of syphilis infection in the population utilising the maternity services in north inner-city Dublin. It re-enforces the importance of continued active surveillance to prevent morbidity and mortality associated with maternal syphilis infection. It also highlights the importance of strategies such as re-testing high-risk groups and definitive screening of spouse serology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A retrospective audit was performed for all obstetric patients who had positive CMV IgM results between January 2012 and December 2014 in the Rotunda Hospital, Ireland. In total, 622 CMV IgM positive tests were performed on samples from 572 patients. Thirty-seven patients had a positive CMV IgM result (5.9%) on the Architect system as part of the initial screening. Three patients were excluded as they were not obstetric patients. Of the 34 pregnant women with CMV IgM positive results on initial screening, 16 (47%) had CMV IgM positivity confirmed on the second platform (VIDAS) and 18 (53%) did not. In the 16 patients with confirmed positive CMV IgM results, four (25%) had acute infection, two (12.5%) had infection of uncertain timing, and ten (62.5%) had infection more than three months prior to sampling as determined by the CMV IgG avidity index. Two of the four neonates of women with low avidity IgG had CMV DNA detected in urine. Both these cases had severe neurological damage and the indication for testing their mothers was because the biparietal diameter (BPD) was less than the 5th centile at the routine 20-week gestation anomaly scan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Recent studies have implicated hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the pathogenesis of immune thrombocytopenia. In pregnancy-associated immune thrombocytopenia, multidisciplinary management is required due to a potential for bleeding complications. We performed a retrospective review of HCV-infected pregnant women and age-matched controls who were not infected with HCV. Methods: One hundred and six women with a HCV viral load were identified from 2009 to 2011. Results: Thrombocytopenia was identified in 10.3% of HCV-infected pregnant women and 1.6% of age-matched controls (P<0.001). Mean platelet count during pregnancy was 120±23×109/L in HCV-infected women and at delivery was significantly lower in HCV-infected women than in controls (P=0.01). Despite the significant difference in platelet counts, there was no significant difference in estimated blood loss (EBL) at delivery. Regional anaesthesia was performed in 73% of thrombocytopenic HCV-infected women and no complications were recorded. There were no fetal bleeding complications. Conclusion: In the first study to date to investigate the impact of HCV on maternal platelet count we demonstrated a significantly higher frequency of thrombocytopenia and a significantly lower platelet count in HCV-infected pregnant women compared with controls. Interestingly, thrombocytopenia had no detectable impact on EBL at delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims This study aimed to (i) describe methadone dosing before, during and after pregnancy, (ii) to compare the incidence of neonatal abstinence syndrome ( NAS) between those with dose decreases and those with steady or increasing doses and (iii) to describe prescribed medication use among opioid-dependent pregnant women. Design Prospective cohort study. Setting Two Irish tertiary care maternity hospitals. Participants A total of 117 pregnant women on methadone maintenance treatment ( MMT) recruited between July 2009 and July 2010. Measurements Electronic dispensing records from addiction clinics and the Primary Care Reimbursement Service were used to determine methadone doses and dispensed medications in the year preceding and the month following delivery. The Finnegan score was used to determine need for medical treatment of NAS. Findings Of the 117 participants, sufficient dosing data were available for 89 women treated with MMT throughout pregnancy; 36 (40.4%) had their dose decreased from a mean pre-pregnancy dose of 73.3 mg [standard deviation (SD) 25.5] to a third-trimester dose of 58.0 mg ( SD 26.0). The corresponding figures for those with increased doses ( n = 31, 34.8%) were 70.7 mg ( SD 25.3) and 89.7 mg ( SD 21.0), respectively. The incidence of medically treated NAS did not differ between dosage groups. Antidepressants were dispensed for 29 women (25.7%) during pregnancy, with the rate decreasing from pre-pregnancy to postpartum. Benzodiazepines were prescribed for 43 women (38.0%). Conclusion In the Irish health service, opioid-dependent women frequently have their methadone dose decreased during pregnancy but this does not appear to affect the incidence of the neonatal abstinence syndrome in their babies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Aims Methadone use in pregnancy has been associated with adverse perinatal outcomes and neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). This study aimed to examine perinatal outcomes and NAS in relation to (i) concomitant drug use and (ii) methadone dose. Design Prospective cohort study. Setting Two tertiary care maternity hospitals. Participants A total of 117 pregnant women on methadone maintenance treatment recruited between July 2009 and July 2010. Measurements Information on concomitant drug use was recorded with the Addiction Severity Index. Perinatal outcomes included pre-term birth (<37 weeks' gestation), small-for-gestational-age (<10th centile) and neonatal unit admission. NAS outcomes included: incidence of medically treated NAS, peak Finnegan score, cumulative dose of NAS treatment and duration of hospitalization. Findings Of the 114 liveborn infants 11 (9.6%) were born pre-term, 49 (42.9%) were small-for-gestational-age, 56 (49.1%) had a neonatal unit admission and 29 (25.4%) were treated medically for NAS. Neonates exposed to methadone-only had a shorter hospitalization than those exposed to methadone and concomitant drugs (median 5.0 days versus 6.0 days, P = 0.03). Neonates exposed to methadone doses ≥80 mg required higher cumulative doses of morphine treatment for NAS (median 13.2 mg versus 19.3 mg, P = 0.03). The incidence and duration of NAS did not differ between the two dosage groups. Conclusions The incidence and duration of the neonatal abstinence syndrome is not associated with maternal methadone dose, but maternal opiate, benzodiazepine or cocaine use is associated with longer neonatal hospitalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe a case of symptomatic primary Cytomegalovirus infection in a HIV-positive pregnant woman on antiretroviral treatment with a CD4 count >200 × 106/l requiring intravenous ganciclovir. No adverse consequences from ganciclovir or evidence of congenital Cytomegalovirus infection were found. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Presents two cases which show that, in selected cases of spontaneous preterm labor at very early gestation, there can be a benefit in prolonging the pregnancy with tocolysis. Indication that in selected cases, longer infusions can be administered to further improve outcome; Need to use atosiban, which allowed prolonged infusion.

Current national guidance in Ireland states that asymptomatic bacteriuria (AB) should be screened for at 12–16 weeks' gestation and treated with a seven-day course of antimicrobials, due to the potential risk of preterm birth and low birth weight infants (LBWI), however, this is based on low quality evidence. Over a three-year period (2018–2020), a retrospective review was undertaken in two neighbouring maternity hospitals; one of which screens for AB (Rotunda hospital (RH)) and one which does not (National Maternity Hospital (NMH)). Patients were included on the basis of fulfilling the IDSA definition for pyelonephritis and requiring admission for intravenous antibiotics. Rates of antenatal pyelonephritis were compared between hospitals, and between screened and unscreened populations. Secondary outcomes including rates of preterm births and LBWI were compared across sites. A total of 47,676 deliveries between the two centres (24,768 RH; 22,908 NMH) were assessed, of which 158 patients met inclusion criteria for antenatal pyelonephritis (n = 88 RH, n = 70 NMH). There was no statistically significant difference in the rate of antenatal pyelonephritis (p = 0.34) or preterm births (p = 0.21) across sites. RH had a significantly higher rate of LBWI at 6.45% versus 5.68% of all births in NMH (p =<0.004). Given the screening rate in RH was below 100%, this cohort was further subdivided into 'RH screened' and 'RH unscreened'. There was no statistically significant difference in the rate of antenatal pyelonephritis both between the 'NMH unscreened' group (n = 70) versus the 'RH screened' group (n = 62) (p = 0.53), or in the 'RH screened' group (n = 62) versus the 'RH unscreened' group (n = 26) (p = 0.53). Omission of a screening programme for AB in NMH did not result in higher rates of antenatal pyelonephritis, preterm birth or LBWI. Our findings may inform decision-making on screening protocols and whether selective screening (i.e. screening in high-risk patients only) could be more cost-effective without compromising best quality of care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are vaccines in clinical trials that target the bacterium Group B Streptococcus (GBS). When approved, GBS vaccines will be intended for administration to pregnant women to prevent infection in their infants. The success of any vaccine will depend on its' uptake in the population. Experience with prior maternal vaccines, e.g. influenza, Tdap and COVID-19 vaccines, teaches us that acceptance of vaccines, especially if novel, is challenging for pregnant women, and that provider recommendation is a key driver of vaccine uptake. This study investigated attitudes of maternity care providers towards the introduction of a GBS vaccine in three countries (the United States (US), Ireland, and the Dominican Republic (DR)) with different GBS prevalence and prevention practices. Semi-structured interviews with maternity care providers were transcribed and coded for themes. The constant comparative method, and inductive theory building were used to develop conclusions. Thirty-eight obstetricians, 18 general practitioners and 14 midwives participated. There was variability in provider attitudes towards a hypothetical GBS vaccine. Responses ranged from enthusiasm to doubts over the need for a vaccine. Attitudes were influenced by perceived additional benefits of a vaccine over current strategy and confidence in the safety of vaccines during pregnancy. Knowledge, experience and approaches to GBS prevention differed geographically and according to provider type, and influenced how participants assessed the risks and benefits of a GBS vaccine. Maternity care providers are engaged in the topic of GBS management and there is opportunity to leverage attitudes and beliefs that will support a strong recommendation for a GBS vaccine. However, knowledge of GBS, and of the limitations of current prevention strategies vary among providers in different regions, and between different provider types. Targeted educational efforts with antenatal providers should focus on highlighting safety data the potential benefits of vaccination over current strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objectives: To describe the uptake of 2009 A/H1N1 influenza vaccination among pregnant women and determine if vaccination was associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Study Design: A historical cohort study was performed using booking, delivery suite and neonatal unit discharge records from the Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. Singleton deliveries to women pregnant before (December 2008–September 2009) and during the pandemic (December 2009–September 2010) were included. Information on vaccination status and type of vaccine was collected on admission to the delivery suite. Logistic regression analyses were used to determine maternal characteristics associated with vaccination. Pregnancy outcomes were compared for vaccinated and unvaccinated women, with adjustment for differing maternal characteristics. Outcomes included vaccination status, preterm birth, size for gestational age, neonatal intensive care admission, congenital anomalies and perinatal death. Results: Of 6894 women pregnant during the pandemic, 2996 [43.5%] reported vaccination at delivery. In the early weeks of the vaccination programme rates of over 70% were achieved. Of those vaccinated, 246 [8.2%], 1709 [57.0%] and 1034 [34.5%] were vaccinated in the first, second and third trimesters respectively. Vaccination was less likely in younger age groups, those who were not in the professional/manager/employer socioeconomic group, women from Eastern Europe, Africa and Asia/Middle East, those who reported an unplanned pregnancy, women who booked late for antenatal care and recipients of publicly-funded obstetric care. Irish nationality was associated with reporting vaccination. There was no association between vaccination during pregnancy and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Women who were vaccinated were less likely to have a preterm delivery than unvaccinated women. Conclusion: 2009 A/H1N1 influenza vaccination uptake was influenced by maternal sociodemographic factors. High vaccination uptake can be achieved in a pandemic situation. Future public health campaigns should provide clear information on vaccination safety in pregnancy, ensure consistent vaccination recommendations from healthcare professionals and provide easy access to vaccination in order to optimise uptake rates in subgroups of the population who less likely to be vaccinated. There was no association between vaccination and adverse pregnancy outcomes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objective: To assess the mode of delivery following previous anal sphincter injury (ASI), and to evaluate the perineal outcome following a vaginal birth. Study design: Retrospective data search of the hospital Patient Access System on patients who delivered following previous ASI from 2010 to 2012. When a second ASI was sustained, additional information was gathered from the patients’ medical notes. Continuous variables were described by counts and percentages and analysed using SPSS version 20. Results: Between January 2010 and July 2012, 138 women with previous ASI delivered at the Rotunda Hospital, of whom 69 (50%) had a spontaneous vaginal delivery (SVD), 13 (9.4%) had an instrumental delivery (11 vacuum, 2 forceps), and 56 (40.6%) had a caesarean section. Of these caesarean sections, 43 (76.8%) were elective, and 13 (23.2%) were emergency. Of the 82 vaginally delivered patients, the majority had a second degree perineal tear or minor lacerations (54/82 and 14/82 respectively) but 11 had a third degree perineal tear following an SVD – a recurrence risk of 13.4%. There was no significant difference in the average birthweight between patients who sustained a second ASI (3644g) compared to those who did not (3680g). None of the patients who had a second ASI developed faecal incontinence symptoms postnatally: two patients developed flatal incontinence which resolved with physiotherapy. Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of individualised antenatal assessment in patients with a previous ASI. They may have a personal preference when considering their mode of delivery. A specialist clinic affords them the opportunity for a detailed discussion. In this study, 86.5% of women who delivered their subsequent baby vaginally did not sustain an ASI, while 13.4% had a repeat ASI following vaginal birth. It is therefore important to counsel regarding the incidence of repeat ASI, but also to emphasise that it is generally impossible to confidently predict recurrence antenatally. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]