Remco Ph Peters1,2,3, Ute D Feucht4,5,6, Lindsey de Vos1, Phuti Ngwepe1, James A McIntyre7,8, Jeffrey D Klausner9,10, Andrew Medina-Marino1,11. 1. Foundation for Professional Development, Research Unit, East London, South Africa. 2. Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa. 3. Department of Medical Microbiology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, CAPRHI School of Public Health and Primary Care, Maastricht, South Africa. 4. Gauteng Department of Health, Pretoria, Tshwane District Clinical Specialist Team, Tshwane District Health Services, South Africa. 5. Research Centre for Maternal, Fetal, Newborn and Child Health Care Strategies, Department of Paediatrics, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa. 6. Maternal and Infant Health Care Strategies Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa. 7. Main Office, Anova Health Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa. 8. School of Public Health and Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. 9. David Geffen School of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases: Global Health, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA. 10. Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA. 11. Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can be transmitted from mother to neonate. We determined the frequency of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Trichomonas vaginalis to the newborn nasopharynx. METHODS: This study was nested in a cohort study of etiologic testing versus syndromic management for STIs among pregnant women living with human immunodeficiency virus in South Africa. Mothers were tested for STIs using the GeneXpert platform within 60 days after delivery. Nasopharyngeal swabs were obtained from newborns of mothers with a positive STI test; these were then tested by Xpert® on the same day based on the maternal STI diagnosis. RESULTS: We tested nasopharyngeal swabs from 85 STI-exposed newborns; 74 (87%) were tested within 2 weeks after birth (median five; range 2-12 days). MTCT frequency of any STI was 30/74 (41%); 43% (23/53) for C. trachomatis, 29% (2/7) for N. gonorrhoeae, and 24% (6/25) for T. vaginalis. Also, 4/11 (36%) swabs obtained between 14 and 60 days after delivery tested positive for STI. CONCLUSIONS: There was a high frequency of MTCT of STIs to the nasopharynx of newborns in our setting. The impact of nasopharyngeal colonization and the benefits of STI testing on newborn health remain to be determined.
BACKGROUND: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can be transmitted from mother to neonate. We determined the frequency of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Trichomonas vaginalis to the newborn nasopharynx. METHODS: This study was nested in a cohort study of etiologic testing versus syndromic management for STIs among pregnant women living with human immunodeficiency virus in South Africa. Mothers were tested for STIs using the GeneXpert platform within 60 days after delivery. Nasopharyngeal swabs were obtained from newborns of mothers with a positive STI test; these were then tested by Xpert® on the same day based on the maternal STI diagnosis. RESULTS: We tested nasopharyngeal swabs from 85 STI-exposed newborns; 74 (87%) were tested within 2 weeks after birth (median five; range 2-12 days). MTCT frequency of any STI was 30/74 (41%); 43% (23/53) for C. trachomatis, 29% (2/7) for N. gonorrhoeae, and 24% (6/25) for T. vaginalis. Also, 4/11 (36%) swabs obtained between 14 and 60 days after delivery tested positive for STI. CONCLUSIONS: There was a high frequency of MTCT of STIs to the nasopharynx of newborns in our setting. The impact of nasopharyngeal colonization and the benefits of STI testing on newborn health remain to be determined.
Authors: Manal J Natto; Yukiko Miyamoto; Jane C Munday; Tahani A AlSiari; Mohammed I Al-Salabi; Neils B Quashie; Anthonius A Eze; Lars Eckmann; Harry P De Koning Journal: Mol Microbiol Date: 2021-11-20 Impact factor: 3.501