Infectious disease in pregnancy

Despite the advent of antibiotics and improved diagnostic facilities, infectious diseases in pregnancy continue to be significant contributors to maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. These are more common in the developing than the developed nations, where poverty, a lack of hygiene, a lack of medical resources and a lack of trained health-care workers are common. Although infectious diseases in pregnancy are not so common in the UK, there has been an increase in the incidence of syphilis, tuberculosis and HIV in pregnancy in inner-city areas. This has implications for health-care professionals, who require a knowledge of these conditions along with the other infectious diseases that are likely to influence maternal and/or fetal and neonatal health. This article discusses some of the significant infections encountered in practice and others that are not as common but require a higher index of suspicion and appropriate investigations to improve maternal and fetal outcomes.