PREVENTION OF INFECTION DURING PREGNANCY

Infections during pregnancy are of great importance for the health of the mother and her child.
It is during pregnancy that the issue of even completely asymptomatic infection of a woman's body by microbes becomes particularly significant.
Not to mention the infectious diseases
a woman may contract at different stages of pregnancy.
The situation is indeed challenging - on the one hand,
intrauterine infection of the baby (quite real,
если женщина является носителем патогенных микробов) и вправду может привести к неблагополучному исходу беременности. С другой стороны,
риск такого исхода далеко не всегда так велик,
как это склонны представлять себе многие будущие мамы.

How can a mother protect her baby from infections?

Toxoplasmosis

To prevent infection during pregnancy, it is necessary to:

not consume meat that has not been sufficiently cooked,
unwashed vegetables,
fruits, and berries;

maintain hygiene during food preparation;
avoid contact with cats (use gloves when cleaning litter):

wash hands thoroughly.

Rubella

Rubella screening is conducted for all pregnant women who visit the antenatal clinic for registration before 16 weeks of pregnancy.

If immunity is present (Ig G positive), the fetus is protected.

Contact with a person infected with rubella or the appearance of a rash in the first trimester of pregnancy requires examination.
In case of primary infection up to 16 weeks of pregnancy, termination of pregnancy is recommended.

Cytomegalovirus Infection

To prevent infection during pregnancy, it is necessary to:

avoid contact with potentially infected items (other people's towels and dishes);

avoid contact with people with respiratory diseases;

strictly observe personal hygiene measures, especially when caring for children attending
childcare facilities;

use individual personal hygiene items.

Herpes virus infection

In the case of genital outbreaks before childbirth, the doctor will propose a more rational method of delivery to prevent infection of the fetus.

Carefully observe hygiene rules after childbirth if herpes sores appear on the lips to prevent the baby from getting infected.

HIV Infection

All pregnant women are recommended to undergo an HIV screening when registering for pregnancy and again at 22 weeks of pregnancy.

In case of a positive HIV test result, the risk of infecting the baby can be reduced by taking preventive antiretroviral medications and avoiding breastfeeding.
An HIV-positive woman and her baby are not infectious in everyday life.

In case of a negative HIV test result, infection can be avoided by practicing safe sexual behavior (having a single reliable sexual partner or regularly using condoms).

Syphilis

It is recommended that all pregnant women be screened for syphilis at their first prenatal visit and at 28-32 weeks of pregnancy.

Detection of syphilis in a pregnant woman and timely therapy can prevent infection in the baby.

In case of infection, treatment of sexual partners is mandatory.

The best way to prevent syphilis is safe sexual behavior and the use of condoms.

Hepatitis B

• All pregnant women are recommended to undergo HBsAg screening when registering at the maternity clinic.

• All newborns in the maternity hospital (regardless of the presence or absence of infection in the mother) are vaccinated against hepatitis B.

• For children from mothers who have tested positive for HBsAg, it is advisable to administer an additional specific immunoglobulin against hepatitis B within the first 12 hours after birth.

• If a woman is found to have a chronic infection (tested positive for HBsAg), it is recommended that she,

Group B Streptococci

• Screening of pregnant women for Group B Streptococci during pregnancy is not conducted.

• In women who have risk factors for developing an infection caused by Group B Streptococci, prophylactic administration of antibiotics during labor is carried out for newborns.

Asymptomatic Bacteriuria

• All pregnant women are recommended to take a urine test for asymptomatic bacteriuria during their first visit to the antenatal clinic.

• In the presence of asymptomatic bacteriuria (colonization of the urinary tract by bacteria).

Antibiotic treatment is carried out for 1-3 days, followed by a urine culture check once a month.

Chlamydia

If indicated, testing for chlamydial antigen from urethral and cervical canal material is conducted,
If the result is positive, treatment of the pregnant woman and her sexual partner is provided.

The best way to prevent chlamydia is safe sexual behavior and the use of condoms.

Bacterial Vaginosis

If you have a history of preterm birth or miscarriage in the second half of pregnancy, you will be offered a screening for bacterial vaginosis.

Upon detection, treatment with oral medications is prescribed after 14 weeks of pregnancy.

Detection of bacterial vaginosis does not require routine treatment of sexual partners.

Candidiasis

If symptomatic vaginal candidiasis (thrush) is present, treatment will be prescribed.

If there are no symptoms of candidiasis and fungi of the Candida genus are found in smears, treatment is not conducted,

Sexual partners without symptoms of candidiasis are not prescribed treatment.

Trichomoniasis

All pregnant women undergo a bacterioscopic examination of vaginal discharge when registering and at 28-32 weeks of pregnancy.

If trichomoniasis is detected, treatment for pregnant women is carried out after the first trimester.

Treatment of the sexual partner is mandatory.

The best way to prevent trichomoniasis is safe sexual behavior and the use of condoms.

Gonorrhea

When gonorrhea is detected in a pregnant woman during bacterioscopic examination of vaginal discharge, treatment is administered.
Treatment of the sexual partner is mandatory.