Background
BACKGROUND Infections during pregnancy are a major contributing factor to perinatal morbidity and mortality. In utero infections may directly affect the foetus and can lead to intrauterine deaths and stillbirths. The foetus may also be affected indirectly as a consequence of maternal infection leading to premature birth or foetal growth restriction (FGR). Infections that are asymptomatic at birth
BACKGROUND
Infections during pregnancy are a major contributing factor to perinatal morbidity and mortality. In utero infections may directly affect the foetus and can lead to intrauterine deaths and stillbirths. The foetus may also be affected indirectly as a consequence of maternal infection leading to premature birth or foetal growth restriction (FGR). Infections that are asymptomatic at birth may present later in life, often within the first five years. In general, primary infections during pregnancy are substantially more damaging than re-infections or reactivations of infection. Likewise, infections acquired at an earlier gestational age tend to lead to more serious infections.1 HIV, syphilis, TB, HBV, malaria, and more recently, listeriosis, are all infections with significant impact on maternal and child health outcomes in SA. Although all these infections are important, this guideline will focus mainly on preventing vertical transmission of HIV, syphilis and TB.
South African National Department of Health, Guideline for Vertical Transmission Prevention of Communicable Infections, Version 2_August 2023