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Am J Obstet Gynecol 2019 Feb 5. Epub 2019 Feb 5.

Division of Neonatology, Pediatric Intensive Care and Neuropediatrics, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.

Background: Ureaplasma species (spp.) are the bacteria most often isolated from the amniotic cavity of women with preterm labor or preterm premature rupture of membranes, thus, the link between intrauterine Ureaplasma spp. infection and adverse pregnancy outcome is clearly established. Read More

JCI Insight 2019 Feb 7;4(3). Epub 2019 Feb 7.

Institute of Human Nutrition, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA.

Fusobacterium nucleatum is an oral anaerobe prevalent in intrauterine infection associated with a wide spectrum of adverse pregnancy outcomes. We demonstrate here that F. nucleatum triggers placental inflammation through maternal, rather than paternal, TLR4-mediated signaling. Read More

J Infect Dis 2019 Feb 1. Epub 2019 Feb 1.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rheumatology Division, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.

Background: Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common imbalance of the vaginal microbiota characterized by overgrowth of diverse Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Gram-negative anaerobes. Women with BV are at increased risk of secondary reproductive tract infections and adverse pregnancy outcomes. However, which specific bacteria cause clinical features of BV is unclear. Read More

J Mol Biol 2019 Jan 31. Epub 2019 Jan 31.

Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America; Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, United States of America; Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, United States of America. Electronic address:

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a β-hemolytic Gram-positive bacterium that colonizes the lower genital tract of approximately 18% of women globally as an asymptomatic member of the gastrointestinal and/or vaginal flora. If established in other host niches, however, GBS is highly pathogenic. During pregnancy, ascending GBS infection from the vagina to the intrauterine space is associated with preterm birth, stillbirth, and fetal injury. Read More

Med Lett Drugs Ther 2018 Nov;60(1559):180-182

J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2019 Feb 7:1-7. Epub 2019 Feb 7.

c Maternal Neonatal Department, Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit , Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria (AOU) , Cagliari , Italy.

Objective: Premature rupture of membranes (PROM) and preterm premature rupture of membranes (pPROM) are frequent conditions with a not fully understood multifactorial etiology. It has been suggested that infection may be the leading cause of pPROM. Metabolomics is nowadays recognized as a successful and versatile approach for the investigation of several pathological conditions, including pregnancy-related ones. Read More

BMC Womens Health 2019 Jan 10;19(1). Epub 2019 Jan 10.

Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Ghent, Belgium.

Background: The prevalence of bacterial vaginosis (BV) and vaginal microbiota types varies dramatically between different populations around the world. Understanding what underpins these differences is important, as high-diversity microbiotas associated with BV are implicated in adverse pregnancy outcomes and enhanced susceptibility to and transmission of sexually transmitted infections.

Main Text: We hypothesize that these variations in the vaginal microbiota can, in part, be explained by variations in the connectivity of sexual networks. Read More

Med Lett Drugs Ther 2018 Nov 19;60(1560):e192-e194. Epub 2018 Nov 19.

Front Immunol 2018 18;9:2960. Epub 2018 Dec 18.

Department of Medicine, Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology, and Hygiene, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.

Early exposure to immune stimuli, including maternal infection during the perinatal period, is increasingly recognized to affect immune predisposition during later life. This includes exposure to not only viral and bacterial infection but also parasitic helminths which remain widespread. Noted effects of helminth infection, including altered incidence of atopic inflammation and vaccine responsiveness, support further research into the impact these infections have for skewing immune responses. Read More

Mol Psychiatry 2019 Jan 4. Epub 2019 Jan 4.

Basic Neuroscience Division, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA.

Immune activation during pregnancy via infection or autoimmune disease is a risk factor for neuropsychiatric illness. Mouse models of prenatal immune activation often involve maternal administration of agents that activate toll-like receptors (TLRs), a class of pattern recognition receptors that initiate innate immune responses. Such studies have focused primarily on activating the TLR3 or TLR4 subtypes, to mimic immune responses to viral or bacterial infections, respectively. Read More

BJGP Open 2018 Jul 2;2(2):bjgpopen18X101505. Epub 2018 May 2.

Professor, Department of General Practice, Antibiotic Center for Primary Care, Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.

Background: Most oral antibiotics are prescribed by GPs, and they are therefore the most important influencers with regard to improving antibiotic prescription patterns. Although GPs' prescription patterns in general are well-studied, little is known about antibiotic prescription patterns in pregnancy.

Aim: To study GPs' antibiotic prescriptions in respiratory tract infections (RTIs) during pregnancy, and assess differences, if any, between pregnant and non-pregnant patients. Read More

Ann Pharmacother 2018 Dec 17:1060028018817935. Epub 2018 Dec 17.

1 University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy, Columbia, SC, USA.

Objective: To review the treatment of common bacterial and viral infections occurring in the pregnant patient.

Data Sources: A literature search of MEDLINE was performed (inception to October 2018). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website was utilized for additional information. Read More

Tex Med 2018 Jul 1;114(7):42-43. Epub 2018 Jul 1.

Physicians fight Texas' stubborn rates of congenital infections. Syphillis, CMV, and HIV are the top three. Read More

Rev Soc Bras Med Trop 2018 Nov-Dec;51(6):819-826

Departamento de Moléstias Infecciosas e Parasitárias, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.

Introduction: This study describes cases of syphilis in pregnancy (SiP) and congenital syphilis (CS) and identifies factors associated with mother-to-child transmission in patients in Itapeva from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2014.

Methods: Using SiP and CS notification forms and medical records, a cross-sectional study involving 149 pregnant women was conducted.

Results: Annual SiP detection rates ranged from 16. Read More

BMC Infect Dis 2018 Dec 3;18(1):611. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

School of Veterinary Medicine and Sciences, University of Ngaoundéré, Ngaoundéré, Cameroon.

Background: Brucellosis is a neglected debilitating zoonosis with a high prevalence in many developing countries. Bovine brucellosis is widespread in Cameroon but the epidemiological situation of human brucellosis is not known. A cross sectional study was carried to determine the seroprevalence and factors associated with bovine and human Brucellosis among abattoir personnel and pregnant women in Ngaoundéré, Cameroon. Read More

BMJ Open 2018 Nov 28;8(11):e024175. Epub 2018 Nov 28.

Public Health Interventions Research Group, Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Introduction: Several bacterial sexually transmitted and genital mycoplasma infections during pregnancy have been associated with poor pregnancy and perinatal outcomes. Comprehensive and systematic information about associations between sexually transmitted infections (STI) and genital infections in pregnancy and adverse perinatal outcomes is needed to improve understanding about the evidence for causal associations between these infections and adverse pregnancy and neonatal outcomes. Our primary objective is to systematically review the literature about associations between: (1) in pregnancy and preterm birth; (2) in pregnancy and preterm birth; (3) and/or in pregnancy and preterm birth. Read More

Am J Reprod Immunol 2019 Jan 26;81(1):e13064. Epub 2018 Nov 26.

Institute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", Trieste, Italy.

Problem: Cytokines have a significant role in the process of embryo implantation, trophoblast growth, and differentiation by modulating the immune and endocrine system. The aim of this study was to investigate the profile of a large set of cytokines in the cervico-vaginal washing of women undergoing IVF, to explore the association of these proteins with a good receptive endometrium.

Method Of Study: A cohort of 155 women scheduled for IVF cycle was recruited. Read More

J Allergy Clin Immunol 2018 Nov 20. Epub 2018 Nov 20.

Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany; Einheit für Klinische Allergologie (EKA), Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany. Electronic address:

Mast cells (MCs), which are well known for their effector functions in T2-skewed allergic and also autoimmune inflammation, have become increasingly acknowledged for their role in protection of health. It is now clear that they are also key modulators of immune responses at interface organs, such as the skin or gut. MCs can prime tissues for adequate inflammatory responses and cooperate with dendritic cells in T-cell activation. Read More

Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2019 Feb 6;144(2):187-191. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Department of Clinical Microbiology, Lillebaelt Hospital, Vejle, Denmark.

Objective: To compare a risk-based and culture-based screening approach for identification of group B streptococci (GBS) vaginal colonization using an intrapartum rectovaginal culture as the reference standard.

Methods: Pregnant women attending the prenatal clinic at Lillebaelt Hospital, Kolding, Denmark, between April 1, 2013, and June 30, 2014, were invited to participate in a prospective observational study. For prepartum culture-based screening, vaginal and rectal culture samples were obtained and, for reference, standard, paired vaginal and rectal culture samples were collected during labor. Read More

Ann Clin Microbiol Antimicrob 2018 Nov 22;17(1):40. Epub 2018 Nov 22.

Institute of Clinical Microbiology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Clinical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Semmelweis St. 6, Szeged, 6725, Hungary.

Objectives: The long-term use of intrauterine devices (IUDs) may lead to biofilm formation on the surface. The aim of this study was to perform the culture- and PCR-based detection of bacteria/fungi from the biofilm of the removed IUDs with different time periods in place.

Methods: For a 2-year period, 100 IUD users were involved in the study. Read More

BMC Vet Res 2018 Nov 20;14(1):353. Epub 2018 Nov 20.

Asia-Pacific Centre for Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Corner Park Drive and Flemington Road, Parkville Victoria, 3010, Australia.

Background: This was a panel study of the prevalence of C. burnetii infection in does in an endemic dairy goat enterprise in Victoria, Australia. Our first objective was to determine the prevalence of does shedding C. Read More

Equine Vet J 2018 Nov 18. Epub 2018 Nov 18.

Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA.

Background: In selective cases, enrofloxacin may be an alternative antibacterial agent to treat unresponsive infections in pregnant mares. Supratherapeutic doses of enrofloxacin are toxic to adult horses and also to newborn foals, however, it is unknown if enrofloxacin crosses the equine placenta or if it is toxic to the fetus.

Objectives: To assess the diffusion of enrofloxacin and its metabolite to fetal fluids and its effects on fetal cartilage when administered to pregnant mares. Read More

Am J Obstet Gynecol 2018 Nov 14. Epub 2018 Nov 14.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Soroka University Medical Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.

The bacterial composition of the vaginal microbiome is thought to be related to health and disease states of women. This microbiome is particularly dynamic, with compositional changes related to pregnancy, menstruation, and disease states such as bacterial vaginosis. In order to understand these dynamics and their impact on health and disease, ecological theories have been introduced to study the complex interactions between the many taxa in the vaginal bacterial ecosystem. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Nov;97(46):e11889

Cochrane China, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.

Background: Varied regimens of penicillin antibiotics were given to women for preventing infection after cesarean section, but there is no study compares the effectiveness and safety of them.

Methods: We searched MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL, CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, and CBM Database, and contacted experts in the field and searched reference lists of retrieved studies. We included randomized controlled trials comparing different regimens of penicillin antibiotics given to women after cesarean section. Read More

Postgrad Med 2019 Jan 30;131(1):8-18. Epub 2018 Nov 30.

b Center for Pelvic Medicine, LLC , Rosemont , PA , USA.

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) affects approximately one third of women in the United States. While often asymptomatic, BV infection may be accompanied by serious health consequences, such as preterm birth and pelvic inflammatory disease, and may facilitate acquisition of sexually transmitted infections. Identifying appropriate patients for screening, such as pregnant women, women planning pregnancy, and women with multiple and/or new sexual partners, is imperative for treatment. Read More

J Dairy Sci 2019 Jan 8;102(1):731-741. Epub 2018 Nov 8.

Alltech Inc., 3031 Catnip Hill Rd., Nicholasville, KY 40356.

A farm-level stochastic simulation model was adapted to estimate the value of implementing foot disorder prevention on a dairy farm by calculating the return on investment associated with implementation of foot disorder prevention. Two potential strategies for foot disorder prevention were tested: strategy 1 was prevention focused on reducing infectious foot disorders (i.e. Read More

J Dairy Sci 2019 Jan 8;102(1):715-730. Epub 2018 Nov 8.

Alltech Inc., 3031 Catnip Hill Rd., Nicholasville, KY 40356.

A farm-level stochastic simulation model was modified to estimate the cost per case of 3 foot disorders (digital dermatitis, sole ulcer, and white line disease) by parity group and incidence timing. Disorder expenditures considered within the model included therapeutics, outside labor, and on-farm labor. Disorder losses considered within the model included discarded milk, reduced milk production, extended days open, an increased risk of culling, an increased risk of death (natural or euthanized), and disease recurrence. Read More

Med Sci Monit 2018 Nov 10;24:8042-8047. Epub 2018 Nov 10.

Psychiatric Hospital "Sveti Ivan", Zagreb, Croatia.

BACKGROUND Ophthalmia neonatorum, or neonatal conjunctivitis, is an acute infection that occurs within the first 28 days of life. This aim of this survey was to evaluate the current methods of preventive treatment for ophthalmia neonatorum in maternity hospitals in Croatia. MATERIAL AND METHODS The annual hospital birth rate in Croatia is approximately 40,000. Read More

BMC Health Serv Res 2018 Nov 7;18(1):839. Epub 2018 Nov 7.

Centre for Health Policy, School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 2, Wits 2050, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Background: The field of acceptability of health services is emerging and growing in coherence. But there are gaps, including relatively little integration of elements of acceptability. This study attempted to analyse collectively three elements of acceptability namely: patient-provider, patient-service organisation and patient-community interactions. Read More

PLoS One 2018 7;13(11):e0206290. Epub 2018 Nov 7.

Inserm UMR 1153, Obstetrical, Perinatal and Pediatric Epidemiology Research Team (Epopé), Center for Epidemiology and Statistics Sorbonne Paris Cité, DHU Risks in pregnancy, Paris Descartes University, Paris, France.

Objective: To assess whether antibiotics used for treatment in asymptomatic second-trimester women positive for Mycoplasma or Ureaplasma spp. detected by amniotic-fluid PCR prevents preterm delivery.

Design: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Read More

BMC Infect Dis 2018 Nov 6;18(1):549. Epub 2018 Nov 6.

Laboratory Bacteriology Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, De Pintelaan, 185, Ghent, Belgium.

Background: Screening of curable sexually transmitted infections is frequently oriented towards the diagnosis of chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and trichomoniasis, whereas other pathogens, sometimes associated with similar urogenital syndromes, remain undiagnosed and/or untreated. Some of these pathogens are associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Methods: In a nested case-control study, vaginal swabs from 79 pregnant women, i. Read More

J Prev Med Hyg 2018 Sep 28;59(3):E177-E186. Epub 2018 Sep 28.

Pediatric Clinic, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Italy.

Pertussis, a highly contagious infective disease caused by Bordetella pertussis, was in the past very common among newborns and children, causing significant medical, social and economic issues burden, also due to frequent need of hospitalization and high mortality. Following the introduction of vaccines against pertussis, the burden of the disease dramatically decreased, although nowadays, this disease it is still the most widespread among the vaccine preventable ones. First vaccine formulations were composed with whole cell antigen of Bordetella pertussis and were followed by formulations with acellular antigens (PT, FHA, PRN, FIM), that showed to have similar efficacy and less reactogenicity. Read More

J Infect Public Health 2018 Nov - Dec;11(6):826-833. Epub 2018 Jun 28.

Redeemed AIDS Program Action Committee, Nigeria.

Background: Pregnant women remain the most vulnerable high-risk population to the devastating impact of the on-going human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) generalized epidemic and co-infection with Tuberculosis in Nigeria. By the end of 2017, the country ranked the second highest in adult HIV-infected individuals and the highest population of orphans due to AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. We assessed the epidemiology of HIV among pregnant women across ten facilities in south-west Nigeria. Read More

Indian Heart J 2018 Sep - Oct;70(5):685-689. Epub 2018 Jan 9.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, AIIMS, New Delhi, India.

Introduction: Mitral stenosis due to rheumatic heart disease is a common problem in India causing significant morbidity and mortality. We have compared the maternal and fetal outcome of women with severe mitral stenosis undergoing percutaneous balloon mitral valvotomy before or during pregnancy.

Methods: A total of 24 women of severe rheumatic mitral stenosis who underwent balloon mitral valvotomy before pregnancy (14 women, group 1) or during pregnancy (10 women, group 2) were included in the retrospective descriptive analysis. Read More

Med Lett Drugs Ther 2018 Sep;60(1555):150-151

Med Sci Monit 2018 Oct 29;24:7727-7735. Epub 2018 Oct 29.

Department of Perinatal Health Care, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China (mainland).

BACKGROUND We sought to describe the epidemiological characteristics of pregnant women with syphilis in Beijing, China, and to investigate the determinants of adverse pregnancy outcomes, including congenital syphilis. MATERIAL AND METHODS We used data from laboratory-confirmed syphilis-infected women who delivered between 2013 and 2015 and were registered in China's Information Management System for Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of Syphilis. Sociodemographic, clinical, and prevention predictors of adverse pregnancy outcomes (i. Read More

J Vet Med Sci 2018 Dec 29;80(12):1875-1880. Epub 2018 Oct 29.

Department of Microbiology, Veterinary Faculty, Kafkas University, 36100, Kars, Turkey.

In this study, we aimed to report anthrax cases in two pumas, brought to the Pathology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Erciyes University for suspected poisoning upon their sudden death at the Kayseri Zoo, in Turkey. In the necropsy, enlargement and malacia were observed in the spleens. The cut surfaces of the spleens were in extreme red-blackish color. Read More

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2018 Oct 24;18(1):416. Epub 2018 Oct 24.

Communicable Disease Control Directorate, Department of Health, Shenton Park, Western Australia.

Background: Influenza and pertussis vaccines have been recommended in Australia for women during each pregnancy since 2010 and 2015, respectively. Estimating vaccination coverage and identifying factors affecting uptake are important for improving antenatal immunisation services.

Methods: A random sample of 800 Western Australian women ≥18 years of age who gave birth between 4th April and 4th October 2015 were selected. Read More

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2018 Oct 19;18(1):410. Epub 2018 Oct 19.

Department of Epidemiology, Addis Continental Institute of Public Health, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Background: Group B Streptococcus (GBS) causes a significant number of stillbirths. Despite this, there is little documented information on the association between stillbirth and pregnant women's GBS recto vaginal colonization in Sub Saharan Africa. As such, this study was aimed at identifying the association between stillbirth and pregnant women's GBS recto vaginal colonization in Eastern Ethiopia. Read More

Lancet 2018 11 12;392(10160):2141-2142. Epub 2018 Oct 12.

Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Institute for Genome Sciences, The University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.

Lancet 2018 11 12;392(10160):2171-2179. Epub 2018 Oct 12.

Institut de Microbiologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Lille, Lille, France; Recherche Translationelle Relation Hôte-Pathogènes, Université de Lille, Lille, France. Electronic address:

Background: Preterm delivery during pregnancy (<37 weeks' gestation) is a leading cause of perinatal mortality and morbidity. Treating bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy can reduce poor outcomes, such as preterm birth. We aimed to investigate whether treatment of bacterial vaginosis decreases late miscarriages or spontaneous very preterm birth. Read More

Vet Microbiol 2018 Nov 18;225:31-33. Epub 2018 Sep 18.

Cavac, La Roche sur Yon, France.

Chlamydia abortus is responsible for enzootic abortion (known as ovine enzootic abortion (OEA) and enzootic abortion of ewes (EAE)) in both sheep and goats and has major economic implications for the farming industry worldwide. A virulence-attenuated mutant strain of C. abortus (strain 1B) is currently commercially available as a live attenuated vaccine for immunization of sheep and goats in several European countries. Read More

Am J Obstet Gynecol 2019 Feb 12;220(2):155-166. Epub 2018 Oct 12.

Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda; Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda. Electronic address:

The vaginal microbial community ("microbiota") is a key component of the reproductive health of women, providing protection against urogenital infections. In sub-Saharan Africa, there is a high prevalence of bacterial vaginosis, a condition defined by bacterial overgrowth and a shift away from a Lactobacillus-dominated profile toward increased percentages of strict anaerobic species. Bacterial vaginosis is associated with an increased risk of HIV acquisition and transmission, as well as an increased risk of acquiring other sexually transmitted infections, preterm births, and pelvic inflammatory disease. Read More

Viruses 2018 10 10;10(10). Epub 2018 Oct 10.

Kitasato Institute for Life Sciences, Kitasato University, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan.

Vertical transmission of can cause neonatal infections. A culture test in the late stage of pregnancy is used to screen for the presence of maternal for intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis. For the test, a vaginal⁻rectal sample is recommended to be enriched, followed by bacterial identification. Read More

Theriogenology 2019 Jan 30;123:139-144. Epub 2018 Jun 30.

Departamento de Clínicas Veterinária, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

This study aimed to evaluate steroid hormones in foals born from mares treated for ascending placentitis with different combinations of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMS), flunixin meglumine (FM), long-acting altrenogest (ALT) and estradiol cypionate (ECP) for ten consecutive days, starting two days after experimental induction of placentitis with Streptococcus zooepidemicus. Fourty-six pregnant mares and respective foals were assigned as healthy group (Control, n = 8) or treated groups as follows: TMS+FM (n = 8), TMS+FM+ALT (n = 8), TMS+FM+ALT+ECP (n = 6), TMS+FM+ECP (n = 6) and no treatment (NO TREAT n = 10). At delivery, foals were classified as high-risk or low-risk based on clinical and hematologic findings, and survival rates were recorded during the first week of life for comparisons across groups. Read More

JAMA 2018 10;320(14):1464-1470

Infectious Disease Section, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.

Importance: Immunization with tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine is recommended in the United States during weeks 27 through 36 of pregnancy to prevent life-threatening infant pertussis. The optimal gestation for immunization to maximize concentrations of neonatal pertussis toxin antibodies is unknown.

Objective: To determine pertussis toxin antibody concentrations in cord blood from neonates born to women immunized and unimmunized with Tdap vaccine in pregnancy and optimal gestational age for immunization to maximize concentrations of neonatal antibodies. Read More

Rev Fac Cien Med Univ Nac Cordoba 2018 09 20;75(3):183-188. Epub 2018 Sep 20.

Clínica Reina Fabiola ciudad de Córdoba.

Introduction: The presence of C. trachomatis in pregnant women can cause premature rupture of membranes, postpartum endometritis and preterm birth. Clinical diagnosis is more difficult among those who have an asymptomatic infection. Read More

Vaccine 2018 11 4;36(46):7033-7042. Epub 2018 Oct 4.

Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK. Electronic address:

Background: There is a considerable global burden of invasive group B streptococcal (GBS) disease. Vaccines are being developed for use in pregnant women to offer protection to neonates.

Objective: To estimate the potential impact and cost-effectiveness of maternal immunisation against neonatal and maternal invasive GBS disease in the UK. Read More

PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2018 10 4;12(10):e0006749. Epub 2018 Oct 4.

Microbiology Research Unit, Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Background: In sub-Saharan Africa, where there is the scarcity of proper diagnostic tools, febrile illness related symptoms are often misdiagnosed as malaria. Information on causative agents of febrile illness related symptoms among pastoral communities in Ethiopia have rarely been described.

Methods: In this a community based cross-sectional survey, we assessed the prevalence of typhoid fever, typhus, brucellosis and malaria among individuals with a set of given symptoms in Amibara district, Afar Region, Ethiopia. Read More