Infectious disease in pregnancy

Most infections during pregnancy will not cause long-term harm, but those that do should be recognized and treated in conjunction with infectious diseases specialists and neonatologists where appropriate. Mothers may die from obstetric sepsis, more commonly in the developing world, and some infections, notably influenza and varicella, run a more severe course in pregnancy. Importantly, despite an overall reduction in the number of maternal deaths in the last UK confidential enquiry, the number of women dying from infection has increased. Maternal infection can also lead to fetal congenital anomalies, stillbirth, preterm deliveries, intrauterine growth restriction and neonatal infection. This review outlines prevention and screening for infections, maternal infection syndromes, important organisms with their clinical effects and management in pregnancy, and those infections that may lead to congenital abnormalities.