Perinatal infection

Revision as of 14:54, 20 August 2012 by WikiBot (talk | contribs) (Robot: Automated text replacement (-{{SIB}} +, -{{EH}} +, -{{EJ}} +, -{{Editor Help}} +, -{{Editor Join}} +))
Jump to navigation Jump to search

WikiDoc Resources for Perinatal infection

Articles

Most recent articles on Perinatal infection

Most cited articles on Perinatal infection

Review articles on Perinatal infection

Articles on Perinatal infection in N Eng J Med, Lancet, BMJ

Media

Powerpoint slides on Perinatal infection

Images of Perinatal infection

Photos of Perinatal infection

Podcasts & MP3s on Perinatal infection

Videos on Perinatal infection

Evidence Based Medicine

Cochrane Collaboration on Perinatal infection

Bandolier on Perinatal infection

TRIP on Perinatal infection

Clinical Trials

Ongoing Trials on Perinatal infection at Clinical Trials.gov

Trial results on Perinatal infection

Clinical Trials on Perinatal infection at Google

Guidelines / Policies / Govt

US National Guidelines Clearinghouse on Perinatal infection

NICE Guidance on Perinatal infection

NHS PRODIGY Guidance

FDA on Perinatal infection

CDC on Perinatal infection

Books

Books on Perinatal infection

News

Perinatal infection in the news

Be alerted to news on Perinatal infection

News trends on Perinatal infection

Commentary

Blogs on Perinatal infection

Definitions

Definitions of Perinatal infection

Patient Resources / Community

Patient resources on Perinatal infection

Discussion groups on Perinatal infection

Patient Handouts on Perinatal infection

Directions to Hospitals Treating Perinatal infection

Risk calculators and risk factors for Perinatal infection

Healthcare Provider Resources

Symptoms of Perinatal infection

Causes & Risk Factors for Perinatal infection

Diagnostic studies for Perinatal infection

Treatment of Perinatal infection

Continuing Medical Education (CME)

CME Programs on Perinatal infection

International

Perinatal infection en Espanol

Perinatal infection en Francais

Business

Perinatal infection in the Marketplace

Patents on Perinatal infection

Experimental / Informatics

List of terms related to Perinatal infection

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Background

A perinatal infection is an infection caused by bacteria, viruses or less common parasites that is passed from a mother to her baby during pregnancy or childbirth.

The embryo and fetus have no immune function or an immature immune function. They depend on the immune function and freedom from infection in the mother. Several infectious agents are capable of crossing the placenta and causing infection (congential infection) in the embryo or fetus. Often microorganisms that produce minor illness in the mother are very dangerous for the developing embryo or fetus. This can result in spontaneous abortion or major developmental disorders. For many infections, the baby is more at risk at particular stages of pregnancy. Problems related to congenital infection are not always directly noticeable.

The infant can also become infected from the vagina of the mother during birth. Some infectious agents may be transmitted to the embryo or fetus in the uterus, during birth or even shortly after birth. The distinction is important because when transmission is primarily during or after birth, intervention directly after birth may prevent infections in the infant.

During childbirth, the infant is exposed to maternal blood and body fluids without the placental barrier intervening and to the maternal genital tract. Because of this, microorganism transmitted by blood (Hepatitis B, HIV), organisms associated with sexually transmitted disease (Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis), and normal flora of the genito-urinary tract are among those commonly seen in infection of the newborn.

Template:WH Template:WS